THE Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Cressida Dick, is to step down.
The news comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he was unsatisfied with her response to his demands that she "urgently" bring in change to restore public trust and confidence in her force.
It also comes just hours after Dick said she had "absolutely no intention of going".
In a resounding U-turn, she said on Thursday evening: "It is with huge sadness that following contact with the Mayor of London it is clear that he no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership of the Met to continue.
"He has left me no choice but to step aside as Commissioner."
Dick said Khan had asked her to stay on for a short period to ensure stability during the transition to a new boss.
In a statement, Khan (above with Dick) said: "Last week, I made clear to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner the scale of the change I believe is urgently required to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners in the Met and to root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination and misogyny that still exists.
“I am not satisfied with the Commissioner's response.
"On being informed of this, Dame Cressida Dick has said she will be standing aside. It's clear that the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership right at the top of the Metropolitan Police.”
Dick said serving in the role had been the "greatest honour and privilege of my life", and paid tribute to the officers who served under her.
Her time at the top of the Met has been plagued with scandals, not least its late U-turn on a refusal to investigate breaches of lockdown laws on Downing Street.
The Met has been plunged into still further chaos with her departure, as it investigates a sitting Prime Minister for breaching his own rules.
The London force also saw the extraordinary publication racist, sexist and homophobic messages sent by officers earlier this month.
It also faced backlash after heavy-handed policing of a vigil held in the memory of Sarah Everard, the woman who was brutally murdered by one of the force's own officers.
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