By Dame Cressida Dick to step down as Met Police Chief
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick is leaving her role after a series of damaging controversies.
Dame Cressida said she had been left with “no choice” after London Mayor Sadiq Khan stated he had no confidence in her leadership.
Last week, the police watchdog found “disgraceful” misogyny, discrimination and sex harassment among some Met PCs.
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 Met Police officer, Wayne Couzens, in March last year.
Speaking on BBC London hours 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.
In her resignation statement, Dame Cressida said she had “agreed to stay for a short period to ensure the stability of the Met”.
Her successor will be appointed by the home secretary and the mayor of London. Contenders include Matt Jukes and Neil Basu, who are both assistant Met commissioners.
Beyond London, the Met is also responsible for national counter-terrorism policing.
Mr 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 Met.
“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.
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