London Met Police chief Cressida Dick resigns after scandals rock force
London police chief Cressida Dick has resigned following a string of scandals that rocked the British capital’s force, including racism, sexism and a serving officer murdering a young woman.
The resignation on Thursday comes after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told Dick he was not satisfied she could root out those problems that still existed within the force.
Dick said in a statement she will stand aside because Khan “no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue”.
Dick, 61, was the first woman to lead London's 193-year-old police force, also known by the name of its Scotland Yard headquarters.
Confidence in the Metropolitan Police has been shaken by the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped by then-police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021.
Dick referred to “the murder of Sarah Everard” in her resignation statement, saying this and “many other awful cases recently have, I know, damaged confidence in this fantastic police service”.
The force has also come under criticism following recent revelations of a culture of bullying, racial discrimination and misogyny in a central London police station.
In a report earlier this month, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the behavior was part of an offensive police culture, not just rogue individuals. "We believe these incidents are not isolated or simply the behavior of a few 'bad apples.'"
Meanwhile, Labour MP Dawn Butler tweeted, “I said Cressida Dick had to go.”
“I’m now pleased @MayorofLondon has accepted her resignation.”
Dick’s resignation comes as her police force investigates the “partygate” scandal swirling around Prime Minister Boris Johnson over parties held in breach of coronavirus restrictions.
Johnson has so far faced a growing number of calls to resign from within his own Conservative Party over the scandals.
The premier was forced into a humiliating apology in the House of Commons earlier this month, however, the lawmakers responded with outrage and decried his apology.
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