Met police investigating Downing Street parties, Cressida Dick says | Metropolitan police

The Metropolitan police are investigating allegations surrounding parties at Downing Street and in Whitehall, Cressida Dick has said, with Sue Gray’s internal report now likely to be delayed.

The Met commissioner told the London assembly her force had launched a criminal investigation as a result of information provided by the Cabinet Office.

It is a remarkable change of tack from the Met, which previously said its policy was not to undertake retrospective investigations of lockdown breaches.

The Met has asked the Cabinet Office investigation team to formally send the evidence it has regarding the events, the Guardian understands. Up until now, the Cabinet Office has been briefing officers as they secured evidence.

The Met’s decision to investigate means they believe there appears to be evidence of wrongdoing, those involved knew or should have known it was wrong, and that those involved may not have any reasonable excuse for their actions.

Police will not give a timescale for their inquiry, but they are expected to contact those now under investigation.

Officers will have to unpick which regulations were in place at the time the parties and gatherings took place, as the rules were regularly changing.

A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “The MPS has had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office in relation to its inquiry into allegations of gatherings. Throughout this process specialist MPS detectives, supported by senior officers, have continually considered whether criminal investigation into any of these events was proportionate based on the available information. In recent days the Cabinet Office has provided outline findings from its inquiry to the MPS.”

Dick told the London assembly police and crime committee: “I absolutely understand that there is deep public concern about the allegations that have been in the media over the past several weeks.”

She said normally police would not investigate retrospective breaches, but emphasised it was not a blanket ban. She said there were three factors that could merit a retrospective investigation.

First, there is evidence those involved knew – or ought to have known – what they were doing broke the laws. Other factors, the Met commissioner said, included “where not investigating would significantly undermine the legitimacy of the law”, and “where there was little ambiguity around the absence of any reasonable defence”.

She said police and the Cabinet Office investigation headed by Gray have been liaising.

Dick then announced her U-turn, after weeks of her force being criticised for not investigating allegations of clear breaches of Covid laws by those who made them.

The Met commissioner said: “As a result, firstly, of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team, and, secondly, my own officers’ assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations.”

According to sources, Gray will not publish her inquiry until the Met has concluded its investigation into the alleged criminal activity in Downing Street. The Met confirmed that Gray had handed over her preliminary findings.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said work would continue on the inquiry. “The investigation being carried out by Sue Gray is continuing,” he said. “There is in ongoing contact with the Metropolitan police service.”