Cressida Dick, first lady of the Met
CRESSIDA DICK has been appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, becoming the first woman to lead the force in its 188-year history.
The 56-year-old, who retired from the Met as Assistant Commissioner three years ago, takes over from Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has retired after five-and-a-half years in the post.
Ms Dick, who first joined the Met as a constable in 1983, beat three other shortlisted candidates, and was ap- pointed after a round of interviews in front of Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London. A source said she had been appointed not because she was a woman, but because she was the best candidate, and the Mayor had been especially impressed with her qualities.
In a statement, Ms Dick, who has spent the last two years working at the Foreign Office, said she was “thrilled and humbled”. She said: “This is a great responsibility and an amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward immensely to protecting and serving the people of London and working again with the fabulous women and men of the Met.
“Thank you so much to everyone who has taught me and supported me along the way.”
She takes on the role at a time of intense pressure, with the security threat at severe, and violent crime on the increase across the capital.
Her appointment means three of the most senior figures in British policing are now women, with Lynne Owens,
heading up the National Crime Agency and Sara Thornton, who lost out on the Met Commissioner job, the chair of the National Police Chief ’s Council.
Bringing vast operational experience to the role, Ms Dick headed up the force’s anti-terror unit, before being controversially moved from the post by Sir Bernard in 2014.
In 2005 she was in charge of the operation which led to the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian national, at Stockwell Tube station, after he was wrongly identified as a terrorist. Ms Dick was later cleared of any blame in his death by a jury.
Sadiq Khan said Ms Dick’s “experience and ability has shone throughout this process”, while Amber Rudd praised her as an “exceptional leader”.
The family of Mr de Menezes criticised the move. In a statement, they said: “The message of today’s appointment is that police officers can act with impunity.”