U.K. orders review into police 'political activism'

British Interior Minister Suella Braverman orders review of police "political activism and impartiality" after independent review found force racist, sexist and homophobic. Review to explore if officers' involvement in "politically contentious matters" is damaging public confidence.

U.K. interior minister Suella Braverman said Saturday she has ordered a watchdog to review "political activism and impartiality" in the police after an independent review found the force racist, sexist and homophobic.

Braverman, who has earned criticism since taking up the post nearly a year ago with her "anti-woke" rhetoric and hardline stance on immigration, commissioned the probe to "explore impacts of police taking part in political matters".

The interior ministry cited officers policing gender-critical views on social media, their conduct at political marches and some taking the knee in public as examples of how public confidence in police may have been "damaged".

The review by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services comes ahead of a general election expected next year and prompted immediate criticism it was a politicised move.

Braverman's ruling Conservatives, in power since 2010, have been trailing the main Labour opposition by double digits in the polls for more than a year.

They have been accused of increasingly stoking so-called culture war issues -- such as those linked to immigration, transgender rights and social justice -- to reverse sliding fortunes.

Conservatives and others have hit out at police in recent years after some officers made public demonstrations of support for social justice issues, such as taking the knee to protest against racism.