Commissioner says force in ‘hopeless position’ after being told to reinstate scores of officers who had failed its vetting

The Metropolitan police vowed to keep scores of officers facing allegations including rape and sexual misconduct away from the public after the high court struck down its policy of sacking those who fail their vetting.

A furious Sir Mark Rowley, commissioner of the Met, said the force had been left in a “hopeless position” after a test case brought by an officer facing unproven claims including rape.