The head of the Metropolitan Police has resigned after harsh criticism from London Mayor Sadiq Khan. This had called for a culture change.
LONDON – It is a harrowing picture that an inquiry into the work of the London Metropolitan Police released last week has revealed: multiple cases of bullying, misconduct in office, scandalous misogyny, the list of allegations against numerous police officers, mainly based at Charing Cross police station should have been stationed in the City of Westminster is long.
With the resignation of London’s chief of police, Cressida Dick, the findings now also have personal consequences for the already crisis-ridden London police force, although according to reports in the British media, including the BBC, the resignation was not based on the results of the investigation. Instead, a crucial factor in Dick’s resignation was that she had lost the backing of London’s Labor Mayor Sadiq Khan, who had called for a culture change from Dick’s leadership team.
Trouble in Britain: dispute with Sadiq Khan provokes resignation of London police chief
A few days earlier, Khan had expressed doubts that the 61-year-old was taking the necessary measures to renew the police unit in the right way. Therefore, Dick explained on Thursday evening (February 10, 2022) “with great regret”, she had no choice but to step aside. According to media reports, she is to remain in office for a while in order to enable an orderly handover, the German Press Agency reported, among other things.
However, the successful replacement of your post could be difficult, as the “Politico” portal reported on Friday: For the appointment of a new leadership of the largest police unit in Great Britain* is the home secretary and conservative hardliner Priti Patel responsible – but the support of the social democratic Mayor of London Khan is also considered crucial. He has already received criticism from government circles for dealing with Dick’s personnel.
Criticism of London police: A murder case and doubts about how Boris Johnson’s “Partygate” was handled
The Metropolitan Police has repeatedly fallen into disrepute in recent years – among other things, due to the discriminatory or misogynist behavior of some police officers or the harsh treatment of demonstrators. A low point was last year Murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard* who was killed by a police officer. As well on Police handling of Downing Street lockdown parties* there is criticism. The investigation into this political scandal involving Prime Minister Boris Johnson* still running. (ska with dpa) *fr.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA
#allegations #racism #abuse #London #police #chief #resigns