Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick, is leaving her role over a series of damaging controversies.
Dame Cressida said she is left with “no choice” after London Mayor, Sadiq Khan made it clear to her that he had no confidence in her leadership.
Last week, the police watchdog found “disgraceful” misogyny, discrimination and sexual harassment among some Metropolitan Police Commissioners.
Dame Cressida, the first woman to lead the biggest UK police force, also faced criticism over the Sarah Everard case.
Ms. Everard was murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer, Wayne Couzens, in March 2021.
Speaking in an interview before her departure was announced, she insisted that she had “absolutely no intention” of quitting and that she was “seething angry” about the culture at Charing Cross police station, which was exposed by the police watchdog.
In her resignation statement, Dame Cressida said she “agreed to stay for a short period to ensure the stability of the Met”.
Her successor will be appointed by the Home Secretary, in consultation with the Mayor of London. Contenders for the office include Matt Jukes and Neil Basu, who are both assistant Metropolitan Commissioners.
Beyond London, the Metropolitan Commissioner is also responsible for national counter-terrorism policing.
London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, said he was “not satisfied” with Dame Cressida’s response to the scale of change required to “root out” racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying and misogyny in the Metropolitan Police.
“On being informed of this, Dame Cressida Dick has said she will be standing aside,” he said.
Mr. Khan thanked the commissioner for her 40-year policing career.
He said he would now “work closely with the home secretary on the appointment of a new commissioner” with an aim to restore trust in the force.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson said Dame Cressida “has served her country with great dedication and distinction over many decades”.
Home Secretary, Priti Patel said the Police Chief held the role “during challenging times” and that she “exemplified the increasingly diverse nature of our police”.
Leader of the Greater London Assembly Conservatives, Susan Hall, said Mr. Khan handled the situation “extremely badly”.
Earlier this week Mr. Khan said he had put Dame Cressida “on notice” following the exposure of racist and sexist messages sent by officers at Charing Cross.
But Ms. Hall on a radio show said this should have been done “behind closed doors”.
She said the resignation made Londoners less safe and left a “void” at the top of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Dame Cressida said in a statement: “It is with huge sadness that following contact with the mayor of London today, it is clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue”.
“He has left me no choice but to step aside as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick
“The murder of Sarah Everard and many other awful cases recently have, I know, damaged confidence in this fantastic police service,” she added.
“There is much to do, and I know that the Met has turned its full attention to rebuilding public trust and confidence. For that reason, I am very optimistic about the future for the Met and for London.”
Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Dame Cressida Dick
The Met had submitted a plan to Mr. Khan last Friday, February 11, 2022, on reforming the force and a meeting was due to be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022.
Dame Cressida served in the role of Metropolitan Police Commissioner for almost five years and was recently given a two-year contract extension.
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