AFTER a successful “interrogation” of Boris Johnson, Line Of Duty’s AC12 have turned their skills to Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick over Partygate.
In a collaboration with Led By Donkeys, the show's stars and creator Jed Mercurio have released a new clip showing the screws being turned on Dick as she faces accusations of failing the public by hindering the publication of the Gray report into parties in Downing Street during strict Covid lockdown rules.
The video edits together footage of the Met Police boss and Line Of Duty with a new voiceover.
It follows on from a previous clip of Martin Compston’s DCI Steve Arnott, Adrian Dunbar’s Superintendent Ted Hastings and Vicky McClure's DI Kate Fleming grilling Prime Minister Boris Johnson which became a viral hit online.
This latest video opens with Dick, who says: “We have a long established and effective relationship with the Cabinet Office.”
“Who exactly does the Metropolitan Police work for, ma'am? Our citizens, or Boris Johnson?” questions Hastings.
Dick replies: “Downing Street.”
Another important message from @ByDonkeys pic.twitter.com/BgU6e5GiAK
— Jed Mercurio (@jed_mercurio) January 28, 2022
It comes as a former attorney general said the Met Police have been “vacillating” about alleged Downing Street lockdown parties in the face of major public concern, Lord Morris of Aberavon was speaking after Scotland Yard constrained the Sue Gray inquiry report into “partygate” over concerns that its contents may impact the police investigation into possible lockdown breaches.
Morris said: “I am dismayed with the vacillation of the Metropolitan Police.
“Surely it is in the public interest that major concerns over events in Downing Street be investigated and reported on.
“Any prejudice that might result in fines would be a disproportionate concern.”
The Metropolitan Police have asked Gray, a senior civil servant, to make only “minimal reference” to No 10 events which are subject to a criminal investigation, buying more time for Johnson as he faces a threat to his leadership.
Earlier this week Dick confirmed that officers were investigating “potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations” at events held at Downing Street and in Whitehall in 2020.
Lord Morris added: “Could I ask whether the commissioner consulted with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service), who in turn – as it did in my day – at least keep the AG (attorney general) informed in any such event involving public figures?
“The AG supervises the CPS. Did she have a role in this?”
In a statement on Friday, Scotland Yard said: “For the events the Met is investigating, we asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report.
“The Met did not ask for any limitations on other events in the report, or for the report to be delayed, but we have had ongoing contact with the Cabinet Office, including on the content of the report, to avoid any prejudice to our investigation.”
Rather than the statement indicating an escalation of the investigation, PA learned that officers were only looking into possible breaches of Covid rules that may warrant fixed penalty notices, with the Met’s concerns centring on the ability of officers to effectively investigate.
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