Dame Cressida Dick ‘felt intimidated’ into resigning as Met Police chief after ultimatum from Sadiq Khan
Dame Cressida Dick “felt intimidated” into resigning as Metropolitan Police Commissioner following an ultimatum from London mayor Sadiq Khan, an independent report has found.The review, by Sir Thomas Winsor, into Dame Cressida’s departure from the force in February also found due process was not followed.
Dame Cressida said she would step aside after evidence emerged officers at Charing Cross police station had sent racist, sexist and homophobic messages to one another and amid the fallout over the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.Following the publication of some of the messages, Mr Khan said he was putting the commissioner “on notice”, claiming an urgent plan to restore faith in the force and tackle prejudice was needed.The report found the mayor was “particularly concerned” one of the officers who sent the offensive messages had been in the same team as Couzens.
He then said to her in private that this was her “last chance saloon” and she needed to “throw everything at this”.Announcing her resignation, Dame Cressida said Mr Khan “no longer had sufficient confidence in her leadership” and she was “sad” to be standing down.
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The Met has since been placed in special measures.Mr Khan’s actions were criticised by several senior police figures at the time.
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Sir Thomas presented his findings to the Home Office on 24 August, but they were published on Friday “given the public interest in the matter”.His report concludes: “Due process was not followed by the mayor of London and the mayor’s office for policing and crime in their taking of actions which led, on 10 February 2022, to Dame Cressida Dick stepping aside as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.”Those acting on behalf of the mayor told the commissioner that he intended publicly to announce his loss of trust and confidence in her, and that he intended to commence the statutory removal process, on the afternoon of February 10 2022.”She felt intimidated by this process into stepping aside, and I can understand that reaction.”The mayor’s actions failed to respect the dignity of the commissioner as an individual, and as the holder of high public office.”He did not act, in particular on 10 February 2022 itself, in accordance with the legislative scheme, still less its spirit.”Sadiq Khan claims report is ‘biased’Mr Khan responded to the allegations in the report, describing them as “clearly biased” and claiming they “ignore all the facts”.He added in a statement: “On the former commissioner’s watch, trust in the police fell to record lows following a litany of terrible scandals.”What happened was simple – I lost confidence in the former commissioner’s ability to make the changes needed and she then chose to stand aside.”Londoners elected me to hold the Met commissioner to account and that’s exactly what I have done. I make absolutely no apology for demanding better for London and for putting the interests of the city I love first.”Home Secretary Priti Patel commented: “Public confidence in the Met has been dented by a series of appalling incidents and it is vital that failings are addressed and professional standards restored to the level that Londoners deserve.”Dame Cressida left her post in April and is due to be replaced by Sir Mark Rowley.
Dame Cressida Dick “felt intimidated” into resigning as Metropolitan Police Commissioner following an ultimatum from London mayor Sadiq Khan, an independent report has found.
The review, by Sir Thomas Winsor, into Dame Cressida’s departure from the force in February also found due process was not followed.
Dame Cressida said she would step aside after evidence emerged officers at Charing Cross police station had sent racist, sexist and homophobic messages to one another and amid the fallout over the murder of Sarah Everard by serving officer Wayne Couzens.
Following the publication of some of the messages, Mr Khan said he was putting the commissioner “on notice”, claiming an urgent plan to restore faith in the force and tackle prejudice was needed.
The report found the mayor was “particularly concerned” one of the officers who sent the offensive messages had been in the same team as Couzens.
He then said to her in private that this was her “last chance saloon” and she needed to “throw everything at this”.
Announcing her resignation, Dame Cressida said Mr Khan “no longer had sufficient confidence in her leadership” and she was “sad” to be standing down.
The Met has since been placed in special measures.
Mr Khan’s actions were criticised by several senior police figures at the time.
Sir Thomas presented his findings to the Home Office on 24 August, but they were published on Friday “given the public interest in the matter”.
His report concludes: “Due process was not followed by the mayor of London and the mayor’s office for policing and crime in their taking of actions which led, on 10 February 2022, to Dame Cressida Dick stepping aside as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
“Those acting on behalf of the mayor told the commissioner that he intended publicly to announce his loss of trust and confidence in her, and that he intended to commence the statutory removal process, on the afternoon of February 10 2022.
“She felt intimidated by this process into stepping aside, and I can understand that reaction.
“The mayor’s actions failed to respect the dignity of the commissioner as an individual, and as the holder of high public office.
“He did not act, in particular on 10 February 2022 itself, in accordance with the legislative scheme, still less its spirit.”
Sadiq Khan claims report is ‘biased’
Mr Khan responded to the allegations in the report, describing them as “clearly biased” and claiming they “ignore all the facts”.
He added in a statement: “On the former commissioner’s watch, trust in the police fell to record lows following a litany of terrible scandals.
“What happened was simple – I lost confidence in the former commissioner’s ability to make the changes needed and she then chose to stand aside.
“Londoners elected me to hold the Met commissioner to account and that’s exactly what I have done. I make absolutely no apology for demanding better for London and for putting the interests of the city I love first.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel commented: “Public confidence in the Met has been dented by a series of appalling incidents and it is vital that failings are addressed and professional standards restored to the level that Londoners deserve.”
Dame Cressida left her post in April and is due to be replaced by Sir Mark Rowley.