By Tony O’Riley-
London’s Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over its handling of an alleged Christmas party that took place at Downing Street during lockdown last year.
The Met has been accused of failing in its duties to investigate the allegations properly by aiding and abetting a criminal offence. IOPC head of national operations Sunny Bhalla had earlier told Green Party peer Jenny Jones, who made a complaint, the watchdog was “aware of the significant public anger” about the parties, first revealed by The Daily Mirror. Mirror’s revelations. The watchdog is now assessing whether to launch a formal investigation, with a decision due as soon as today.
Baroness Jones had said there was a “case to answer” about whether the Met was “aiding and abetting a criminal offence, or deliberately failing to enforce the law in favour of Government politicians and their staff”.
She said the “extensive” police presence in Downing Street should have meant evidence was available for an investigation.
The IOPC told her: “It is understandable that the events in question, which appear to have taken place whilst tight restrictions were imposed on the general public, are the subject of intense public and political scrutiny and debate.
“However, this does not alter the way in which complaints relating to these matters are handled.”
Separately, the Mayor’s Office for Policing And Crime will also examine Baroness Jones’ complaint that Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick “refused” to investigate the Decembe
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, a member of the UK’s Green Party, wrote a letter of complaint to the IOPC regarding Metropolitan Police involvement in the Christmas party allegedly held at Number 10 Downing Street on December 18, 2020. Baroness Jones shared the letter on her verified Twitter account.
“Due to the extensive police presence at 10 Downing street, including their role in controlling all access to and from Downing street, I believe that there is a case to answer for the Police aiding and abetting a criminal offence, or deliberately failing to enforce the law in favour of Government politicians and their staff,” the letter read.
Baroness Jones also criticized the refusal of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick to investigate the allegations after the Christmas party was reported.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “The Met has received a significant amount of material in relation to the allegations reported in the media.
“All the material has been considered by detectives in detail and it does not provide evidence of a breach of the Health Protection Regulations, but restates allegations made in the media.
“In line with our policy where we do not normally investigate breaches of these regulations when they are reported long after they are said to have taken place, unless there is evidence from the Cabinet Office or other evidence comes to light, the Met will not at this time commence an investigation.”
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm that, on Friday December 17, we received a referral from the Metropolitan Police Service of a complaint about an alleged party at Downing Street in December 2020.
“We are assessing it to determine what, if any, further action may be required from us.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime said: “A complaint has been received and is under consideration.”