The mayor of London “constructively dismissed” Dame Cressida Dick as the Metropolitan Police commissioner after giving her an “ultimatum” that bypassed statutory requirements, a review has found.
A report commissioned by Priti Patel said Sadiq Khan’s actions leading up to her shock resignation did not follow “due process”, but the mayor disputed the findings and called the review “biased”.
Sir Tom Winsor, the former chief inspector of constabulary, concluded: “The commissioner is not an employee of the mayor, but she was in effect constructively dismissed by him.”
The report said that people acting on behalf of Mr Khan told Dame Cressida that he “intended publicly to announce his loss of trust and confidence in her, and intended to commence the statutory removal process” on 10 February, following a series of scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard, photographing of dead women’s bodies and racism and misogyny at Charing Cross police station.
It said the commissioner was left in a position whereby she felt that she had no option but to announce that she would step aside”.
“The mayor’s actions on 10 February 2022 failed to respect the dignity of the commissioner as an individual, and as the holder of high public office,” the report added.
“He did not act in accordance with the legislative scheme, still less its spirit.”
Responding to the report, Dame Cressida said the Metropolitan Police “can only succeed on a bedrock of independence and impartiality”.
She added: “At all times I sought to uphold the law and act ethically and with goodwill, professionalism, openness and trust.
”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.
“I hope this report is an opportunity for others to reflect on how City Hall functions and is held to account.”
Sir Tom found that the period had “obvious political overtones”, and that Mr Khan was “sensitive to the impact” of the Charing Cross report on his own future.
“No political office-holder should ever seek to persuade or pressure an independent public servant to act contrary to the law, still less on the basis of political expediency,” the report said.
“The failure of the mayor to comply with the legislative scheme was, in my view, an abuse of the power conferred upon him … it has potentially adverse implications for other chief officers and local policing bodies.”
Representatives of the mayor said that previous Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair had resigned in similar circumstances when Boris Johnson was mayor in 2008.
Sir Tom said that he was not asked to review that incident but had “similar concerns” to the ousting of Dame Cressida on the information gathered.
Mr Khan claimed the review was “clearly biased and ignores the facts”, adding: “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.”
