Cressida Dick: Met Police officers have ‘no faith in Sadiq Khan’, Police Federation says

Chairman Ken Marsh said: “We are deeply disappointed with the actions of the Mayor... enough is enough. Officers have no faith in Sadiq Khan.”
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Met Police officers “have no faith in Sadiq Khan’, while the atmosphere among cops is at “rock bottom”, the head of the force’s Police Federation branch has said.

It comes after Dame Cressida Dick, the first female commissioner of London’s police force, said she was stepping down from her post after a string of shocking scandals which saw her lose the confidence of the London mayor.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Picture: Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty ImagesMetropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Picture: Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. Picture: Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty Images

In response Dame Cressida said: "He has left me no choice but to step aside as commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service."

Two of the officers involved have since been promoted.

Now the Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF), which represents more than 31,000 police officers in London, has hit back, declaring it has no faith in Mr Khan.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The announcement follows a meeting of police colleagues at the federation.

Chairman Ken Marsh said: “We are deeply disappointed with the actions of the mayor.

A Met Police officer. Photo: ShutterstockA Met Police officer. Photo: Shutterstock
A Met Police officer. Photo: Shutterstock

“The atmosphere amongst Metropolitan Police officers is horrendous – it’s rock bottom.

“Officers in London feel saddened and angry that commissioner Cressida Dick has been pushed out in the way she has.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“She was reforming. She was changing. The culture is changing.”

While he said the hard work of officers and public trust in them was being “undermined” by politicians, and the mayor of London “in particular”.

He added: “Every minute of every day – as we speak – thousands of Met Police colleagues are out there putting their safety at risk, tackling knife crime and robbery, countering terrorism, capturing child sex offenders, locking up bad people.

“We will continue to speak up for these courageous colleagues. They are being forgotten about by our elected Mayor.

“Enough is enough. Officers have no faith in Sadiq Khan.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Marsh continued: “The continuing scaremongering, sniping and sweeping statements are causing disaffection with the public… not the thousands and thousands of hard-working officers who are out there keeping people safe.

“These officers are being unfairly lambasted for things they haven’t done.

The federation has been in contact with the mayor’s office and informed them “in no uncertain terms” of the dissatisfaction among the rank and file.

Mr March said the entire federation was sickened by incidents which seen the force criticised in recent months - including the murder of Sarah Everard, the jailing of officers for taking photographs of murdered Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry and other high profile incidents.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But he said: “We’ve got to put some context on what we are talking about. The incidents that have taken place are horrific. We do not want these individuals in the job.

“But the Federation will continue to speak up for our good officers.

“My colleagues are working day and night to keep London safe. To be all branded in this shaming and negative way - as they are being by some politicians - is wholly unfair.

“Frankly what we are viewing is politicians trying to use policing and the career of the country’s most senior police leader to deflect from their own failings.

“Many other people in public life could learn from the accountability policing – and the outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner – has shown.”

The mayor of London has been contacted for comment.