The Met Police placed under special measures after Sarah Everard and Stephen Port murders

The watchdog, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), confirmed the news on Tuesday.

The news follows a series of failings including the Sarah Everard murder and Stephen Port investigation.

A spokeswoman for the HMICFRS said: “We can confirm that we are now monitoring the Metropolitan Police Service through our Engage process, which provides additional scrutiny and support to help it make improvements.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel. Credit: PA

The HMICFRS's Matt Parr has written to  Acting Commissioner Stephen House warning of high profile incidents which "are likely to have a chilling effect on public trust and confidence" in the Met.

In a statement, Home Secretary Priti Patel, said: “The public put their trust in the police and rightly expect the country’s largest force to protect them effectively and carry out their duties to the highest professional standards. As Home Secretary, I have overseen the largest funding boost for policing in a decade, and the Government has committed to an extra 20,000 police officers, with 2,599 already recruited by the Metropolitan Police.

“I expect the police to get the basics right. It is clear the Metropolitan Police Service is falling short of these expectations which is why I support the action that HMICFRS has taken today to highlight their failings – and I expect the Met and the London Mayor to take immediate action to begin addressing them.

“The process to recruit a new Commissioner is well under way and I have made clear that the successful candidate must demonstrate sustained improvements in the Metropolitan Police Service in order to regain public trust both in London and across the country.

“The new Commissioner will need to deliver on the public’s priorities for the police – making our streets safer, bearing down on crime and bringing more criminals to justice, while continuing to recruit thousands of new officers to protect local communities.”

Meanwhile, London mayor Sadiq Khan has released a statement where he welcomed the decision to put the Met Police into special measures.

“A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems but have damaged the confidence of Londoners in the capital’s police service,” Mr Khan said.

“The decision by the HMIC to now move the Met into special measures has laid bare the substantial performance failings by the force.

“As I have been saying for some time, Londoners deserve better. That’s why we now need to see nothing less than a new contract forged between the police and the public in London.

“This means root and branch reforms and systemic change to the Met’s performance and culture.”