The Metropolitan Police is launching an official criminal investigation into “a number of” breaches of Covid-19 rules that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall over the past two years.
Speaking at a meeting of the London Assembly police and crime committee on Tuesday morning, Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick confirmed that police were now looking into the issue following information provided by the Cabinet Office.
She said: “What I can tell you this morning is that, 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.
“My officers have assessed several other events that appear to have taken place at Downing Street and Whitehall. On the available information, these other events are assessed as not reaching the threshold for criminal investigation.
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“Throughout the pandemic the Met has sought to take a proportionate approach. I should stress that the fact we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that Fixed Penalty Notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved. We will not be giving a running commentary on our cu4rrent investigations, but I can assure you that we will give updates at significant points as we would generally do.”
While the Commissioner said that the Met would not normally retrospectively investigate breaches of Covid-19 regulations – the punishment for which is a fine – she confirmed that there were four factors that would lead to an investigation.
Those are if there is evidence and “not just somebody saying something”, if there is evidence that those involved knew or “ought to have known” that…
Source : times
