The police watchdog has decided not to investigate a complaint about how Scotland Yard handled allegations of a Downing Street Christmas party.
The Metropolitan Police referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after Green Party peer, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, raised concerns over the force’s response to the event.
The alleged party, on 18 December last year, is said to have happened during strict COVID restrictions, as millions observed the rules to stay apart from loved ones.
London had been put into Tier 3 measures on 16 December, preventing mixing indoors between households.
Lady Jones said the police “must have known” if an unlawful gathering had taken place.
But the IOPC insisted the referral was “invalid”.
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In her complaint, Lady Jones argued the Met had a “case to answer” for “aiding and abetting a criminal offence or deliberately failing to enforce the law in favour of government politicians and their staff”, due to the “extensive” police presence in Downing Street.
She wrote: “If there was an unlawful gathering taking place at Number 10 Downing Street then the police must have known, and were highly likely to have played an active part in organising or facilitating the illegal gathering.”
Now the IOPC says it has returned the referral to Scotland Yard to “handle as it determines would be appropriate”.
According to the law, a valid complaint can only be made where a person or someone acting on their behalf has been adversely affected by alleged conduct or its effects.
The watchdog said in a statement: “There was nothing within the referral to indicate the complainant was physically present or nearby when officers stationed at Downing Street allegedly failed to enforce COVID…
Source : skynews
