Head Of Met Police Cressida Dick Is Standing Down, Reports Say

Dame Cressida Dick is said to be leaving her role as head of the Metropolitan Police.

Dick, who is 61 years old, became Commissioner of the Met in 2017, and insisted just earlier today that she had 'absolutely no intention' of leaving her post.

Speaking to BBC Radio London, Dick said she was determined to root out 'disgusting behaviour' within the Met and that she had told officers 'enough is enough' after police watchdog The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it had found misogyny, discrimination and sexual harassment among some officers.

Cressida Dick (Alamy)

Yesterday, London Mayor Sadiq Khan demanded that the commissioner deliver plans on how to win back trust within the police, to which she responded today to say she was 'highly accountable' and 'doing her best' at the job.

She commented, 'I expect to be held to account, it's a big job.'

In a statement, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Dick's response to the report was insufficient and that she has pledged to 'stand aside' as a result.

Per Sky News, Khan said, 'Last week, I made clear to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner the scale of the change I believe is urgently required to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners in the Met and to root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination and misogyny that still exists. I am not satisfied with the Commissioner's response.'

Sadiq Khan (Alamy)

The statement continued, 'On being informed of this, Dame Cressida Dick has said she will be standing aside. It's clear that the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the Metropolitan Police.'

In her own statement, as per Metro, Dick said it was 'clear that the Mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue', but that she would be staying in her role for a short period 'to ensure the stability of the Met and its leadership while arrangements are made for a transition to a new Commissioner'.

She also said that acting as commissioner had been 'the greatest honour and privilege of [her] life'.

Elsewhere, she stated, 'The murder of Sarah Everard and many other awful cases recently have, I know, damaged confidence in this fantastic police service. 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.

'Thank you to everyone in the Met and those who work with us for the extraordinary efforts you make each and every day. The public depend on you, for your professionalism, courage, compassion and integrity. You make a huge difference to people’s lives every day. I salute you.'

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