Watchdog accuses Dick of withholding files from murder inquiry

DAME CRESSIDA DICK may have breached professional standards by withholding files from an inquiry into the axe murder of a private investigator, the police watchdog has concluded.

The former Met Commissioner had been accused of “putting hurdles in the way” of an independent panel by delaying and refusing to hand over vital material concerning the murder.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) , which has been assessing the complaints, found that Dame Cressida should have provided “full and exceptional disclosure sooner”.

Mr Morgan was killed with an axe in the car park of the Golden Lion pub in Sydenham, south-east London, on March 10 1987.

Despite five police inquiries, no one has been has been charged over the father-of-two’s murder and for years it was alleged the investigation was hampered by corrupt police officers who also had links to tabloid journalists.

Last year an independent inquiry accused the Metropolitan Police of ‘institutional corruption’ in a damning report that found the force had repeatedly hidden mistakes and covered up the actions of corrupt officers.

The IOPC launched its own inquiry to ascertain whether officers should be disciplined over the investigation.

In its report, the watchdog said Dame Cressida may have breached professional standards – but not to the extent that her actions would have resulted in disciplinary proceedings.

The IOPC said while she may have been acting to preserve sensitive material, she got the balance wrong and should have prioritised the work of the independent panel. The report said there was “no evidence to indicate Commissioner Dick intended to protect corrupt officers”.

Responding to the findings, Dame Cressida – who quit as Commissioner in February – insisted she and her team had acted “professionally, flexibly, expeditiously, diligently and with integrity”. In a statement she said: “The IOPC recognise that everything I did was for a legitimate purpose.

“They also recognise that in providing ‘full and exceptional disclosure’ to the panel I had to fulfil other legal responsibilities – most importantly not to disclose inappropriately information that would put lives at risk.

“I disagree with their analysis that my actions ‘may give an indication of a breach of standards of professional behaviour’ and that ‘I may have got the balance wrong’.”

She added: “Finally, and most importantly, I deeply regret that no one has been brought to justice for Daniel’s murder and regret everything the Met or any of its members have done which has added to the pain of Daniel’s family, of losing Daniel in such terrible circumstances.” The IOPC also said former Ass Comm John Yates, who retired in 2011, may have breached police standards of professional behaviour by failing to take action against a former detective chief superintendent, whose actions allegedly played a part in the collapse of a trial of three suspects.