Police will investigate claims that Downing Street held Covid-19 rule-breaking parties.
Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida confirmed allegations of coronavirus law breaches in Downing Street and Whitehall will be looked into by the force.
She told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee: “We have a long-established and effective working relationship with the Cabinet Office, who have an investigative capability.
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“As you well know they have been carrying out an investigation over the last few weeks.
“What I can tell you this morning is that as a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office inquiry team and, secondly, my officers’ own assessment, I can confirm that the Met is now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations.”
She added: "The fact that we are now investigating does not, of course, mean that fixed penalty notices will necessarily be issued in every instance and to every person involved.
“We will not be giving a running commentary on our current investigations.”
But there will be updates at “significant points”, she added.
She said “several other events” that appeared to have taken place in Downing Street and Whitehall had also been assessed, but they were not thought to have reached the threshold for criminal investigation.
The Met has come under fire for holding off on investigating previous allegations of partying. The latest allegations accuse Prime Minister Mr Johnson of attending a birthday party in June 2020, when social gatherings indoors were strictly forbidden
Dame Cressida defended her force’s approach to the allegations surrounding alleged breaches of coronavirus laws in No 10 and Whitehall.
She told the London Assembly’s Police and Crime Committee: “We police without fear or favour. We police impartially and we police in an operationally independent manner.
“I myself have… investigated more politically charged investigations, and investigations involving members of the Government, members of the civil service and other elected officials – many more than any other senior police officer, I would suggest.
“And I have always done that and I will always do that impartially.”
She said she understood the “deep public concern” about the allegations in the media about the parties.
“The vast majority of people have acted responsibly during the pandemic, many, many people – including many Londoners and my colleagues – have made huge sacrifices and they have suffered considerable loss during the pandemic.”
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