Dame Cressida Dick's replacement will face 'stark challenges' at Met Police, Priti Patel warns

Priti Patel has warned the next Metropolitan Police commissioner that they must tackle the “institutional issues” within the force as she expressed her “commitment” to selecting the “right leader” to replace Dame Cressida Dick.

Writing a piece in the Evening Standard after Dame Cressida dramatically quit her position on Thursday evening after losing the support of the mayor over her plan to reform the Met, the home secretary confirmed that the search for the commissioner’s replacement has begun.

“This is the biggest leadership role in policing. However, at this time, the challenges facing the new commissioner are stark,” Ms Patel wrote.

“Following a series of appalling incidents and too many historical cases involving serving Met Police officers, it is clear that strong and decisive new leadership will be required to restore public confidence in our largest police force.

“The public in London and across the entire country must once again have confidence in the integrity and professionalism of the police officers who serve them.”

Live updates as critics welcome Met Police commissioner’s departure

She continued: “Policing culture and conduct have rightly come under scrutiny. Be in no doubt that a new leader must tackle these institutional issues.

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“I will appoint a commissioner who will deliver results for the public that our police serve and represent.”

Patel and Khan clash over commissioner’s exit

The home secretary’s latest comments come as Sky News understands she and the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan clashed over the sudden departure of Dame Cressida last night.

Mr Khan put the Met Police commissioner “on notice” last week after the police watchdog published messages sent by officers that used sexist, racist and homophobic language.

The home secretary had been braced for the London mayor to withdraw support in the next three to four weeks, Sky News understands, which the government understood would have made Dame Cressida’s position “unsustainable”.

It is understood the police chief was called to a meeting with the mayor at 4.30pm on Thursday over the reforms but declined to attend and offered her resignation instead, catching the Home Office by surprise.

It is understood that Mr Khan did not inform the home secretary of his intention to request a meeting with the commissioner, causing an increase in tensions between the pair.

Ms Patel was not impressed by this and thought it was “rude and unprofessional”, one Home Office source told Sky News.

The home secretary will oversee the appointment of the new commissioner, although the process requires her to consult Mr Khan when appointing Dame Cressida’s successor.

Mr Khan said he would be working “closely” with Ms Patel over the matter.

Meanwhile, the Met has sought to reassure the public that its current investigation into alleged lockdown-busting parties held at Downing Street and across Whitehall will not be affected by Dame Cressida’s exit.

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Met Police ‘partygate’ probe

The force, which was heavily criticised for an apparent hesitation to launch a probe into the alleged parties, said the investigation continues as normal and remains under the control of Commander Catherine Roper.

Speaking to Sky News on Friday morning, Transport minister Robert Courts reiterated that the probe into lockdown-breaching parties will “not be affected” by the Met chief’s departure.

“It is a bit of a shame that the relationship has broken down between Cressida Dick and the mayor in the way that it has,” the transport minister said.

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Dame Cressida had ‘no choice’ over resignation

Dame Cressida said she felt she had “no choice” but it was “with great sadness” she was stepping down.

“It is clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue,” she said.

“He has left me no choice but to step aside as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.”

Dame Cressida added that she knew “the murder of Sarah Everard and many other awful cases” have recently “damaged confidence in this fantastic police service”.

Plagued by series of scandals

The Met commissioner has faced a series of scandals during her time leading Britain’s biggest police force – most recently concerning violently racist, misogynist and homophobic messages exchanged by officers based at Charing Cross police station that were published by a watchdog.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said he believed Dame Cressida had been treated in a “wholly unfair” way and that she was “much loved across the rank and file of the Metropolitan Police Service”.

Following the announcement, Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked her for “protecting the public and making our streets safer”.

Critics welcome Dame Cressida’s departure

Campaign group Reclaim These Streets, which is bringing a legal challenge against the force over its handling of a Sarah Everard vigil, simply tweeted: “Good Riddance.”

Earlier this week, Scotland Yard revealed officers working on the ongoing investigation into 12 events, which has been named Operation Hillman, would this week start asking for the accounts of more than 50 attendees.

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The news came just hours after a fresh photo emerged of the prime minister at a Christmas quiz in Number 10.

Mr Johnson is expected to be among the individuals who will, by the end of the week, start receiving legal questionnaires from officers working on Operation Hillman.

On Thursday, Downing Street confirmed the prime minister had not yet been contacted by police.

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