Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick has vowed to eradicate “disgusting behaviour” within the force and declared that she has “absolutely no intention” of quitting her position.
She told the BBC on Thursday that she had spoken to officers and made clear that “enough is enough” after a damning report into the behaviour of some Met Police officers had left her “seething angry”.
The report published by the Independent Office for Police Conduct [IOPC] following a probe into the Met uncovered incidents of “disgraceful” conduct, including officers talking about committing acts of misogyny, discrimination, murder and sexual harassment.
Despite having been put on notice by the London mayor in the wake of the findings, Dame Cressida insisted that she was the right person to spearhead necessary culture changes and salvage the “tarnished” reputation of the force.
Dame Cressida said: “I expect to be held to account, it's a big job”.
The commissioner also insisted that she was “doing her best” and leading “real transformation” to stamp out “too much very bad behaviour” among officers.
She continued: “There is no place in the Met for racism and sexism and for bullying. In the last few days I have gone out to my colleagues and said enough is enough.”
Baroness Louise Casey of Blackstock is also to head an independent review into the Metropolitan Police and its standards, which will see its vetting, recruitment and training procedures scrutinised. The review comes after the murder of Sarah Everard by serving Metropolitan Police constable, Wayne Couzens.
Dame Cressida said that the review would help her “challenge” unacceptable conduct within the force and instigate change.
The commissioner added: “I accept we have cultural issues and I have an extensive plan of work.
“The Met has issues, but I cannot allow it to be said that the experience that was held in Charing Cross was commonplace. I'm sure there are other examples and I am trying to find them.”
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police is continuing to carry out its inquiry into gatherings in Downing Street and Whitehall that took place while Covid restrictions were in force.
The Met has announced that a questionnaire will be sent to 50 people alleged to have been at gatherings which occurred on eight dates between May 2020 and April 2021. Prime minister Boris Johnson and his wife, Carrie, are expected to be among those contacted.
“Fifty people are being asked to account for what they are doing,” Dame Cressida confirmed.
“Some, not all, may end up with a fixed penalty notice and I recognise this has disgusted many members of the public.”
Photo by King's Church International on Unsplash
