Dame Cressida Dick has warned that the “politicisation of policing” is a threat to how officers do their job as well as to the criminal justice system, in some of her final remarks as Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

As her tenure draws to a close, the force’s most senior officer said she will reflect on what more she and others could have potentially done during her time in the role.

She suggested that more needs to be done to “root out those who don’t uphold our standards and don’t deserve to wear our uniform”.

Dame Cressida, who was given a guard of honour with cheers of “hip, hip, hooray” as she left Scotland Yard ahead of her last day on the job this weekend, previously said she had “no choice” but to step down in February after London mayor Sadiq Khan lost “confidence” in her.

She said she was “really proud” of what the force had achieved in her five years in the job, adding that it is “much more diverse, much more professional and bigger” with more than 34,000 officers employed.

Dame Cressida reinforced that her resignation was not her decision on a visit to Kent in her final days in office, claiming that the mayor “caused me to say that I would step aside”.

She quit after Mr Khan criticised her handling of racist, misogynist and homophobic messages shared by a group of officers based at Charing Cross police station, which was among a series of controversies that plagued the Met during her time in post.

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Her resignation came as a shock to her staff since she had said in an interview just hours earlier that she had no intention of quitting.

Some of us ‘let you all down so terribly’

In her ‘letter to London’, she wrote: “I have been privileged to lead the Metropolitan Police Service for the last five years.

“I will always look back on my time as Commissioner with pride for what has been achieved, with humility for when Londoners have been let down, and with huge confidence the changes we have been making will ensure you can be proud of the Met going forward.”

She highlighted that “violence is down”, as well as murders, shootings and stabbings, adding: “These figures are not an accident. They are not repeated in other major UK cities”.

But she acknowledged the criticism the Met has faced since she has been in power, adding: “We hear the criticism, know not everyone has confidence in us to provide a good service when they need us, and have seen among us those whose horrific actions have let you all, and us, down so terribly.

“Each one drives us to get better, to root out those who don’t uphold our standards and don’t deserve to wear our uniform. To improve our response so all our communities feel protected by us.”

Dame Cressida said that upon learning from mistakes, the force is “listening and acting on what you tell us so we can change for the better”.

“Just this week we launched our violence against women and girls plan, shaped by the views of hundreds of Londoners.”

‘Politicisation of policing is a threat’

But her letter did not forgo criticism of the UK’s “politicisation of policing”.

She said: “The current politicisation of policing is a threat not just to policing but to trust in the whole criminal justice system.

“Operational independence from local and central government is crucial for an effective democracy and is a model respected around the world. We must all treasure and protect it.”

She ended the letter by saying she was “sad” that her time “in this great job is fast drawing to a close”, but expressed her excitement for the Met’s future.

‘I will look back and analyse further’

During a visit to the Metropolitan Police Specialist Training Centre in Gravesend, Kent, Dame Cressida was applauded by firearms officers and public order officers who presented her with a certificate following her 40 years of service.

She also thanked each officer and trainer at the centre, with many also thanking her in return for her leadership.

Speaking about whether she had any regrets about things she might have done differently, Dame Cressida told journalists: “I guess when I sit there, after I have left, I will look back and I will analyse further, what happened potentially, what I could have done or what others could have done in particular circumstances.

“But I’m really proud of what the Met has achieved in this time. I think London should know that it has a fantastic police service, a world-leading police service that people from all over the world come to see, that has improved.”

Her last day in post will be on Sunday, after which she will take unused annual leave, with her final day of employment being 24 April.

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