“It’s the police. Ello, ello! What’s goin’ on here?”-February 12, 2022

It’s been quite a week in British politics, centered around policing at its highest ranks–Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police resigned-and policing of the head of government-the PM is under criminal investigation for breaching COVID restrictions.

Cressida Dick lost the confidence of the Mayor of London and jumped before being pushed.

Full statement from Dame Cressida:

“Thank you to everyone in the Met for the extraordinary efforts you make every day. The public depend on you, for your professionalism, courage, compassion and integrity. You make a huge difference to people’s lives every day. I salute you” pic.twitter.com/OrZawyD1fb

— Josiah Mortimer (@josiahmortimer) February 10, 2022

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he has accepted the resignation of the Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, and he was not satisfied with the commissioner's plan to reform elements of the Met.

Full story: https://t.co/I3j1ZIRQr7 pic.twitter.com/nuKcnqphxw

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 11, 2022

"It's clear the only way to start to deliver the scale of change required is to have a new leadership right at the top."

London Mayor Sadiq Khan says he has accepted Cressida Dick's resignation as Commissioner of the Met Police.https://t.co/iTwh7O4WfO

📺 Sky 501, Freeview 233 pic.twitter.com/ClNUr2kgBO

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 10, 2022

She’d been under much recent criticism:

The Metropolitan Police has deep-rooted structural problems with racism, misogyny, homophobia and bullying. To change the Met’s broken culture, we should start by changing its leadership. Cressida Dick must go. pic.twitter.com/Nc1M48Lv9w

— Marsha de Cordova MP (@MarshadeCordova) February 2, 2022

Martin Rowson on the resignation of Cressida Dick as Met chief – cartoon https://t.co/33nQLMbX6L

— The Guardian (@guardian) February 11, 2022

My bit on Cressida Dick; whether it remotely matters if a prime minister breaks the law; and the general Absolute State of Things https://t.co/oIbWV0zCGf

— Marina Hyde (@MarinaHyde) February 12, 2022

My cartoon Saturday @TheTimes on a #PartyGate Valentine from #CressidaDick. pic.twitter.com/kwaLlnNHSy

— Peter Brookes (@BrookesTimes) February 12, 2022

The departure is awkwardly timed, as the Met digs into #Partygate, and if and when the PM participated in the many parties that have come to light while people were supposed to be under strict gathering guidelines.

The Met Police commissioner’s departure comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces pressure to resignhttps://t.co/HqC9TQOfWW

— TIME (@TIME) February 12, 2022

PM Johnson has now been issued a questionnaire by the police:

Twelve alleged lockdown-busting gatherings are being investigated by the Metropolitan Police as part of the Downing Street partygate row, it has been revealed https://t.co/QQ6r3ybsGW

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 12, 2022

Boris Johnson was at six of the dozen Downing Street gatherings being investigated by police (and possibly a 7th if Met look into Christmas quiz).

PM now has a week to fill in his police questionnaire – with the help of his lawyers. https://t.co/jgjNYnDqrN

— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) February 11, 2022

BREAKING: No 10 confirm that Boris Johnson has been contacted by police over parties in Downing Street.

“We can confirm the Prime Minister has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police. He will respond as required.”

— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) February 11, 2022

BREAKING: Downing Street has confirmed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been contacted by the Metropolitan Police as part of the probe into lockdown-busting parties.@SamCoatesSky has the latest.https://t.co/IZUSLL2QtF

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/8EBfmWwF9O

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 11, 2022

Exclusive:

Boris Johnson will appoint his own private lawyer if he receives a questionnaire from the police over alleged breaches of lockdown rules

The lawyer will focus on his ‘unique’ legal situation – that No 10 is both his home and workplacehttps://t.co/bMZejEmK3b

— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) February 11, 2022

‘Britain’s model of “policing by consent” is based on the idea that the police maintain an impartial rule of law independent of governments or parties.’ https://t.co/TfarTIak42

— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) February 12, 2022

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