The police watchdog has condemned Scotland Yard officers for a range of bad behaviour, including racism, misogyny, harassment and offensive social media messages.

An investigation was launched after a complaint that an officer had sex with a drunk person in a police station, but it later uncovered much more.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct appealed for more evidence and other officers came forward with complaints about colleagues concerning bullying, violence towards women, perverting the course of justice and discriminatory language.

The investigation centred largely on Charing Cross police station near Trafalgar Square and led eventually to one officer being sacked and others being disciplined.

The IOPC’s regional director Sal Naseem said: “The behaviour we uncovered was disgraceful and fell well below the standards expected of the officers involved.

“While these officers predominantly worked in teams in Westminster, which have since been disbanded, we know from other recent cases that these issues are not isolated or historic.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “The conduct of a team of officers at Charing Cross Police Station in central London does not represent the values of the Metropolitan Police Service.

“We are deeply sorry to Londoners and everyone they have failed with their appalling conduct and acknowledge how this will damage the trust and confidence of many in the Met.”