Exclusive

Met chief 'doesn't accept' failure as poll reveals only half of Londoners trust the force

3 December 2021, 08:28 | Updated: 3 December 2021, 09:28

Dame Cressida Dick spoke to Nick Ferrari on Call the Commissioner at Breakfast.
Dame Cressida Dick spoke to Nick Ferrari on Call the Commissioner at Breakfast. Picture: LBC/Alamy

By Sophie Barnett

Dame Cressida Dick has told LBC she "doesn't accept" the Met police has failed, after an exclusive poll found 49% of Londoners don't trust her force.

The Met Police chief made the remarks during Call the Commissioner on Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, where she was presented with an LBC poll.

She said she "regrets" the loss of trust in the force following the murder of Sarah Everard, but doesn't accept that the force has failed.

An exclusive LBC poll revealed today that just over half (51%) say that they trust the Met and 23% of people polled actively distrust police.

A third of young women in London were also found to actively distrust the Metropolitan police.

Read more: Exclusive LBC poll: Only half of Londoners trust the Met

Nick Ferrari puts an exclusive poll to the Met Chief

Nick asked Dame Cressida: "London does not seem to trust your colleagues, why?"

"Well certainly I would like those figures to be much higher obviously," she told Nick.

"But this is the first time I have heard those and a poll of 1,000 people.

"Rest-assured we survey regularly and I have to say I do absolutely understand that in particular, not exclusively, the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer has absolutely damaged people's trust in us. That's something I regret.

"It isn't the only event this year where people have looked at what a very small number of my colleagues have been doing, or alleged to have been doing, and have felt very very upset about that."

Watch again: Call the Commissioner

What will the Met do against anti-vax protesters outside schools

Nick pressed Dame Cressida on how she plans to restore that trust, adding it is a "shocking" figure.

"Our general figures, normally, are up in about the 70s, and they stayed up there for a considerable time. That is very much higher, sadly, than other public servants," she replied.

"But if it is the case that your poll is representative and it has dropped to that, then it is a challenge.

"The vast majority of my officers are good people, decent people."

She added that "trust has certainly been hit".

Dame Cressida Dick says she absolutely understands that the murder of Sarah Everard by a serving officer has damaged Scotland Yard.

But the commissioner told Nick she doesn't accept the Met's has failed.

Nick said: "It's fail, fail, fail, commissioner."

"I don't accept that," said Dame Cressida.

"I don't like those figures - I'm not questioning them - but I don't accept the words you used."

Read more: Killer cop to die behind bars: Sarah Everard's parents say the world is a 'safer place'

LBC's exclusive poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 people, found that trust levels for men are slightly higher, with over half (54%) of men in London saying they trust the Met and around a fifth (21%) saying they distrust the Met.

For men under 35, 56% said they trust the force and 19% said they distrust them.

LBC's poll also highlights that police are losing the confidence of young people in the capital.

This story is being updated

More Nick Ferrari

See more More Nick Ferrari

Exclusive
‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK critically unprepared for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

‘The storm of war is gathering’: Defence cuts leave UK 'woefully unprepared' for a 'bumpy decade', warns ex-minister

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Education Secretary Bridget Philipson 'hasn't changed her mind' and will vote against assisted dying bill

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Nick Ferrari takes to the streets of the US to ask Americans: 'Can you identify these British politicians?'

Why did Trump win and why did Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters

Why did Trump win and Harris lose? Nick Ferrari asks American voters in the wake of US election results

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the United States'

Nick Ferrari attends his first Trump rally in Pennsylvania as he meets the crowd in 'the poorest city in the US'

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said she strongly disagrees with a tweet that a backbench MP appeared to have reposted saying Kemi Badenoch represents "white supremacy in blackface".

Cooper condemns 'appalling' tweet shared by Dawn Butler labelling Kemi Badenoch 'white supremacy in blackface'

Exclusive
Cumberland County: Where the US election could be won or lost

Nick Ferrari travels to America for the US Election: Watch the best bits here

Exclusive
The Chancellor was speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari at Breakfast

Chancellor ‘doesn’t know’ salary of new chairman tasked with ensuring government ‘value for money'

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust in the criminal justice system', says Jenrick

Transparency over Southport stabbings key to avoiding 'deep public mistrust' in criminal justice system, says Jenrick

Exclusive
The government has introduced its football governance bill.

'We're on the same side': Minister denies feud with Premier League over Football Governance Bill

Exclusive
Protest sign reading Danger water pollution, this water is polluted with raw sewage. The responsible party is Thames Water. River Wey, Guildford, UK

Government warns demand for water could outstrip supply as they launch review into 'broken' sector

Nick Ferrari.

'He'll look over his shoulder for the rest of his life': Concern for Martyn Blake's privacy long overdue

Exclusive
'No one gutsy enough to address this': Mylene Klass calls on government to introduce paid miscarriage leave.

Government not 'gutsy' enough to implement paid miscarriage leave claims Myleene Klass

Exclusive
David Cameron speaks to LBC

David Cameron calls for UK to sanction two Israeli ministers as change on arms embargo 'didn't satisfy anybody'

'I wouldn't do it again': Jenrick suggests regret for painting over murals at children’s asylum centre.

'I wouldn't do it again': Robert Jenrick says he regrets ordering workers to paint over murals at children’s asylum centre

Exclusive
Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye

Where did all the fish go? Feargal Sharkey uncovers dangerous blue-green algae plaguing River Wye