The Metropolitan Police commissioner has defied calls to quit after allegations the force was “institutionally corrupt”.

Dame Cressida Dick said she has “no intention of resigning” following the publication of a damning report on Tuesday into the unsolved axe murder of private detective Daniel Morgan in 1987.

An independent inquiry found the force had prioritised protecting its own reputation above tracking down Mr Morgan’s killer.

The 37-year-old was killed in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, southeast London, on 10 March 1987.

But Dame Cressida defended Scotland Yard’s work and her job, insisting she did not obstruct the work of the panel investigating the case.

And the Met chief insisted she was an “honourable person”, adding: “If I thought I should be considering my position I would be, but I don’t.”

The force admitted in 2011 that the initial investigation into the murder – which saw the crime scene unsearched and unguarded – had been hampered by corruption.

But the panel concluded corruption had gone on after the first probe – and questioned why no action was taken to bring those who sabotaged the investigation to justice.

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The panel, led by Baroness Nuala O’Loan, said: “Concealing or denying failings, for the sake of the organisation’s public image, is dishonesty on the part of the organisation for reputational benefit and constitutes a form of institutional corruption.”

Dame Cressida told reporters on Wednesday: “I don’t believe we are institutionally corrupt. No, I don’t accept that.

“I have the deepest feelings for Daniel Morgan’s family. They have shown extraordinary grit and determination and courage.

“Yesterday, I apologised again to them for our failings and the fact that we have not brought anybody to justice despite six investigations and countless other reviews and pieces of work.

“And for the fact that, in so doing and along the way, we have clearly, we the Met, my force of which I’m very proud to be the commissioner, we have caused them extra anguish.

“But I don’t accept that we are institutionally corrupt, no.”

She told how she “acted with integrity”, adding: “I was at all times trying to fulfil my duty there to the family and the panel.”

But she conceded that, in the wake of the “very difficult and powerful report” findings, the Met, together with the Home Office, should explore if there are “any lessons to be learned”.

Dame Cressida said she is focused on leading the force through “what has been in the last 15 months, for all sorts of reasons, some pretty challenging times.”

And she backed her colleagues, adding: “My people do very difficult work, they have to make very difficult decisions, often with far too little time, sometimes with far too little information.

“I’m very proud of them. I love my job and I will continue to do it.”

A series of police investigations and an inquest have failed to convict anyone of Mr Morgan’s killing – or any associated corruption in protecting those responsible.

The private investigator’s brother, Alastair, who has spent 30 years fighting for justice, said the Met commissioner should “absolutely” consider her position.

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