SIR Stephen House, who was allegedly "sacked" as chief of Police Scotland by Nicola Sturgeon, is due to take over temporary control of the Metropolitan Police, it has been announced.
Outgoing metropolitan police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick will leave her job in April before her successor is appointed in the summer, with House stepping in in the interim.
Dick quit in a surprise move last month after a meeting with London mayor Sadiq Khan, and just hours after she said she had "absolutely no intention of going".
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The police chief agreed to stay on until arrangements to find a replacement are finalised.
Home Secretary Priti Patel also confirmed that the circumstances of Dick's resignation will be reviewed by the outgoing chief inspector of constabulary Sir Tom Winsor.
And now it has been revealed that House will step in while the recruitment process is under way.
House became Police Scotland's inaugural chief constable in 2012 after leading the Strathclyde Force.
He was allegedly sacked by the First Minister in 2015 after controversies regarding the force's policy on fire arms and officer's use of stop and search.
House (pictured above) was also under intense presssure after Police Scotland took days to respond to reports of a fatal car crash on the M9.
John Yuill died at the scene, with his partner Lamara Bell later passing away in hospital after officers finally responded.
Police Scotland issued a formal "unreserved" apology for its failings in the case.
In a book by journalists Keiran Andrews and David Clegg, a former senior aide to the FM, Noel Doan, claimed House lost his job over the M9 scandal and that House "essentially was sacked" despite his resignation.
Dick quit after London mayor Sadiq Khan expressed his displeasure at her handling of outrage over racist, misogynist and homophobic messages shared by a group of officers based at Charing Cross police station.
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Deputy commissioner House wrote to Patel calling for a review of Dick's treatment by Khan, saying due process had not been followed.
Dick and City Hall had also disagreed over whether she should receive a payout and sign a gagging order, The Times reported.
House will temporarily fill the role as head of the force until a permanent successor is found.
Patel’s written statement said: “The Metropolitan Police Service faces major challenges and needs to demonstrate sustained improvements in order to regain public trust in London and nationally.
"It is vital that we get the right person for the biggest leadership role in policing in this country.
Dame Cressida Dick, left, with London mayor Sadiq Khan, right
“I will shortly launch the process to recruit a new Commissioner and anticipate that it will conclude in the summer.
"I will then make my formal recommendation to Her Majesty the Queen. My recommendation will pay regard to the views of the mayor of London, as occupant of the mayor’s office for policing and crime.
“In the immediate term following Dame Cressida’s departure, legislation enables the deputy commissioner, Sir Steve House, to exercise temporarily the powers and duties of the Commissioner.
“Sir Steve and the mayor of London must drive improvement even before the next Commissioner is in place to ensure that the Metropolitan Police Service restores trust and takes every necessary action to keep the public safe.”
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The statement added: “The circumstances in which the outgoing MPS Commissioner is leaving her role warrant a closer look at the legislation which governs the suspension and removal of the Commissioner.
“I am pleased to announce that Sir Tom Winsor will be undertaking a formal review into the circumstances and implications of Dame Cressida’s departure.”
The Home Office said the review, to begin on April 1 and expected to finish by the summer, will aim to:
- Establish and assess the full facts, timeline of events and circumstances which resulted in the stepping aside of Dick
- Consider whether due process was followed;
- Include recommendations on how accountability and due process may be strengthened.
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