Correspondence

Letter from Home Secretary to Dame Cressida Dick (MPS) (accessible version)

Updated 10 May 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

Dame Cressida Dick
Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis
New Scotland Yard
Victoria Embankment
London
SW1A 2JL

16 March 2021

Dear Cressida,

Operation Larimar: MPS response to Operation Midland recommendations

Thank you for your letter of 15th February setting out the steps taken by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to respond to the recommendations made by Sir Richard Henriques in his review and those subsequently made by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The mistakes made in Operation Midland have had a devastating and irreparable impact on the lives of those falsely accused, for whom I have immense sympathy, and have called into question the competence of an organisation that so many of us rely on to conduct fair and thorough investigations. This is why I asked HMICFRS to conduct a full inspection of the MPS to determine the extent to which lessons had been learned from Operation Midland – to provide assurances to the victims of false allegations, and the wider public, that the MPS was doing everything possible to ensure that the mistakes will not be repeated.

I am grateful to the MPS, and to DAC Matt Twist and his team, for engaging positively with the IOPC and HMICFRS through Operation Larimar to respond to all of the recommendations made. In particular, I am pleased with the significant amount of work that has been done to transform the MPS’ procedures in relation to search warrants. This work, in addition to changes made to guidance by the College of Policing and those being considered by the Criminal Procedures and Rules Committee (CPRC), will improve officer understanding and scrutiny processes to enhance public confidence.

I note your commitment to continuing to ensure that the lessons of Operation Midland are embedded in your organisation. This is of paramount importance and I plan to ask HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary how we can continue to monitor the progress made by the MPS, and other forces, on these recommendations, and on investigations of non-recent child sexual abuse more widely.

You will be aware that, for many, there remain unanswered questions in relation to Operation Midland and the subsequent investigation by the IOPC. It is important, both for those directly impacted and for wider public confidence, that these questions are addressed. There will be an opportunity for consideration of any outstanding issues as part of the Home Affairs Committee’s inquiry on police complaints, but I would be grateful if you could, in the first instance, respond directly to Sir Richard Henriques on his pertinent questions, published in his open letter in the Daily Mail on 11th February. Specifically, I would like you to provide an answer to the following questions:-

Q1: Who caused or permitted promotions [of those involved Operation Midland] to take place before the [IOPC] investigation was completed?

Q2: Was the promotion board informed that the investigation was not complete when the officers were promoted?

Q3: Were either of the candidates supported by references from those with knowledge of Operation Midland?

Q10: How can the exoneration of all officers responsible for the application for and obtaining of the search warrants be reconciled with the payment of very significant sums of compensation to those wronged by the issue of those warrants?

Finally, I am keen that there is greater awareness of the steps you have taken in response to Sir Richard’s report and the recommendations from the IOPC and HMICFRS. I would be grateful if you could also provide Sir Richard with an update on your progress, as you have outlined in your letter.

I am also copying this response to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). It is important that, as the local policing body, MOPAC plays a role in holding the MPS to account for making progress on these issues.

Rt Hon Priti Patel MP