Met Commissioner: Sadiq Khan did not follow ‘due process’ in sacking Cressida Dick, report finds

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.”

The chair of the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee demanded a formal apology from Mr Khan at an upcoming mayor’s question time session on 15 September.

Susan Hall, leader of the GLA Conservatives, said: “For Sadiq Khan to respond to criticisms of his conduct by hurling baseless accusations of bias at the investigators proves their point entirely. He should take responsibility, reflect on his mistakes, and apologise.”

The report’s release came little over a week before the new commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, takes up his post.

Scotland Yard has been put into special measures in the interim period, and criminal cases involving several officers, including Wayne Couzens, are ongoing.

Sir Tom said his review did not cover Dame Cressida’s performance as commissioner and was concerned only with the process of her removal, adding: “I express no view in this report as to the performance of the commissioner personally or the force she led, and I have not sought or obtained evidence which would allow any conclusions to be drawn on those points.”

The report found that in September last year, both Mr Khan and Ms Patel had agreed that Dame Cressida’s contract should be extended by two years to provide continuity and stability following the Covid pandemic.

But it detailed a series of escalating tension following the publication of the Independent Office for Police Conduct report on Charing Cross police station, with Dame Cressida and Mr Khan giving different accounts of what was said and meant at a series of meetings.

The report said that there was “political pressure from the mayor to resign”, which was “outside the established statutory procedure and contrary to the wider legislative scheme”.

The Home Office said it would consider the report and “bring forward any further changes we deem necessary once the findings and recommendations have been fully considered”.

Ms Patel added: “I hope now that those responsible for delivering policing in London – as well as those responsible for holding the Met to account – will concentrate their efforts on delivering safer streets for the capital and restoring integrity in policing.“Public confidence in the Met has been dented by a series of appalling incidents and it is vital that failings are addressed and professional standards restored to the level that Londoners deserve,” the home secretary added.

“The police need to ensure that they get the basics right, which should include a relentless focus on cutting neighbourhood crime and the serious violence that has blighted too many communities.”