Sadiq Khan 'failed to follow due process and respect the dignity of Cressida Dick' when she was ousted as Met boss

2 September 2022, 11:25 | Updated: 2 September 2022, 12:48

Sadiq Khan did not follow "due process" when he withdrew his support for the ousted Metropolitan Police chief Cressida Dick, a damning new report has said.

The Mayor of London "failed to respect the dignity of the Commissioner as an individual, and as the holder of high public office", it said.

Dame Cressida "felt intimidated" into stepping down in February and after being given an ultimatum by Mr Khan, the review by Sir Thomas Winsor has found.

Sir Thomas, the former chief inspector of constabulary, said in his 116-page report: "I am required to provide an assessment of what happened and to say whether due process was followed in this case. In my view, it was not."

The report went on: "In this case, none of the statutory steps set out in section 48 of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 and summarised above were followed.

"The Mayor, through his Chief of Staff, gave the Commissioner an ultimatum on 10 February 2022: if the Commissioner did not attend a meeting and convince the Mayor that her plan of 4 February 2022 would be improved, he would make a statement to the media.

"That statement would make clear that he no longer had trust and confidence in the Commissioner, and that he intended to start the statutory process for her removal.

"When the Commissioner did not attend that meeting, the Mayor's Chief of Staff reiterated the Mayor's position and gave her less than one hour to decide what to do.

"She felt intimidated by this process into stepping aside, and I can understand that reaction. The Commissioner felt that, in the interests of Londoners and the Metropolitan Police, she had to 'step aside', as a prelude to her eventual resignation."

The Mayor warned Dame Cressida of a "last-chance saloon" after former Metropolitan Police Officer was charged with rape following the sentencing of former parliamentary protection officer Wayne Couzens for the abduction, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in March last year.

Sadiq Khan was said to be particularly concerned that the officer had been in the same team as Couzens telling Dame Cressida that he worried about what was going to happen and that she needed to "throw everything at this".

Sir Tom Winsor said in his report that the Commissioner - though not an employee of the Mayor - was in effect constructively dismissed by him and that "no good reason" had been found as to why a resolution had to be reached on 10 February 2022 itself.

Whilst Sir Tom said that others in her position might feel differently, Dame Cressida felt there was no option to step aside in part to protect the Metropolitan Police itself, and that the circumstances that led to that view were largely created by the actions of the Mayor and his staff.

Sir Tom said the Mayor's actions failed to respect the "dignity of the Commissioner" both as an individual and a holder of high public office.

Read more: Scandal-hit Met chief Cressida Dick tearfully leaves Scotland Yard for final time

Mr Khan hit back: "Londoners will be able to see that this review is clearly biased and ignores the facts.

"On the former Commissioner's watch, trust in the police fell to record lows following a litany of terrible scandals.

"What happened was simple - I lost confidence in the former Commissioner's ability to make the changes needed and she then chose to stand aside.

"Londoners elected me to hold the Met Commissioner to account and that's exactly what I have done. I make absolutely no apology for demanding better for London and for putting the interests of the city I love first.

"I will continue working with the new Commissioner to reduce crime and to rebuild trust and confidence in the police."

Read more: Cressida Dick: The string of scandals that left the Met chief no choice but to quit

Dame Cressida said in a statement: "Sir Tom has written a highly detailed and forensic account of the circumstances surrounding my departure. He found the Mayor did not follow due process and at times his behaviour was oppressive, unreasonable, entirely unacceptable and unfair.

"I fully respect the need for democratic oversight of policing. It is also important that politicians respect due process and do not break the rules.

"At all times I sought to uphold the law and act ethically and with goodwill, professionalism, openness and trust.

"The Met is a fantastic police service that is admired across the world ... They can only succeed on a bedrock of independence and impartiality."

Susan Hall, the Tory leader of the Conservatives in the London Assembly, called on Mr Khan to apologise.

"This independent report raises serious concerns about how the mayor treats senior staff, his lack of respect for due process, and his mismanagement of the Met Police," she said.

"For Sadiq Khan to respond to criticisms of his conduct by hurling baseless accusations of bias at the investigators proves their point entirely. He should take responsibility, reflect on his mistakes, and apologise."