The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over a criticism suggesting its dealing with of allegations of a celebration at Downing Road final Christmas might quantity to “aiding and abetting a prison offence”.
In her letter, despatched the day earlier than leaked footage confirmed No 10 workers joking about potential media questions on an alleged occasion on 18 December final yr, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb criticised Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick’s “refusal” to research the allegations.
The Inexperienced Get together peer additionally argued that because of the “intensive” police presence in Downing Road, there’s a “case to reply” for the drive “aiding and abetting a prison offence, or intentionally failing to implement the regulation in favour of presidency politicians and their workers”.
In a letter to the Inexperienced Get together on Tuesday, Scotland Yard mentioned her criticism had been cut up into two elements – certainly one of which it had referred to the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct (IOPC), and the opposite to the London Mayor’s Workplace for Policing And Crime (MOPAC).
“I’ve referred your criticism to the Impartial Workplace for Police Conduct given that you simply successfully allege misconduct in public workplace by MPS cops,” mentioned the Met’s directorate {of professional} requirements, Performing Detective Chief Superintendent Tony O’Sullivan.
“The IOPC will now make a willpower as as to whether the criticism must be investigated and in that case, how.”
The watchdog’s choice can be made by the tip of the week, if not sooner, The Impartial understands.
Confirming that the IOPC had acquired the Met’s self-referral, a spokesperson mentioned: “We’re assessing it to find out what, if any, additional motion could also be required from us.”
The watchdog will possible assess to what extent Baroness Jones herself has been personally affected by the matter whereas contemplating how to answer her criticism.
A Met inspector mentioned the second half pertains to Girl Jones’s criticism relating to Dame Cressida, including: “The Metropolitan Police Service is just not the suitable authority to deal with complaints in regards to the commissioner and, as such, this has been referred to MOPAC.”
In her criticism, Girl Jones claimed Dame Cressida’s “refusal” to research might quantity to “a battle of curiosity and a possible coverup” – arguing that police “should” have recognized of the occasion if it came about as a result of their “intensive presence” at No 10, “together with their position in controlling all entry to and from” the constructing.
Former No 10 communications director Alastair Campbell, who labored in Tony Blair’s authorities, has additionally since questioned whether or not it’s doable that cops – and the prime minister – wouldn’t have been conscious of such an occasion going down throughout the constructing.
However Conservative chief whip Mark Spencer has argued that “no single particular person might account for what’s occurring in these buildings – they’re enormous buildings”, with “a whole bunch and a whole bunch of places of work and rooms”.
It’s alleged that the occasion final December, at a time when London was below Tier 3 Covid restrictions, noticed officers and advisers make speeches, take pleasure in a cheese board, drink collectively and alternate Secret Santa items – though the prime minister is just not thought to have attended.
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Shortly after the allegations have been first printed within the Day by day Mirror, Mr Johnson’s former press secretary Allegra Stratton give up her authorities position in response to leaked footage of her joking in regards to the alleged incident with fellow aides at a mock press convention final December.
In an announcement the day after Ms Stratton’s resignation – and after Girl Jones’s criticism – Scotland Yard mentioned it will not examine the matter, however mentioned that any proof gathered by an inner authorities inquiry can be handed to the drive for consideration.
“The correspondence and pictures doesn’t present proof of a breach of the well being safety rules however restates allegations made within the media,” the assertion mentioned. “Based mostly on the absence of proof and consistent with our coverage to not examine retrospective breaches of such rules, the Met won’t begin investigation.”
Cupboard secretary Simon Case final week “recused” himself from main the federal government’s inner inquiry after The Impartial and different shops reported allegations of an impromptu drinks for 15-20 individuals held in and round his workplace within the second week in December final yr.
One other senior civil servant, Sue Grey, has since been appointed to guide the investigation, which now covers a number of – however not all – allegations of rule-breaking events throughout Whitehall within the run-up to Christmas final yr.
