Met Police receives information it requested from Cabinet Office, denies delaying Sue Gray report into Downing Street parties

Following Met Police chief Cressida Dick's announcement on 25 January that an investigation would be undertaken into alleged breaches of Covid rules in Downing Street and Whitehall, the police service requested material from the Cabinet Office.

The Metropolitan Police has received the material it requested from the Cabinet Office to support its investigation into possible breaches of Covid regulations and guidance in Downing Street and Whitehall, the force said, adding it had not delayed the publication of the Sue Gray inquiry.

Commander Catherine Roper, who leads the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command, said:“My officers will now examine this material in detail to establish whether individuals attending the events in question may have breached the regulations. They will do so without fear or favour following our normal processes."

Whilst Commander Roper said the police force had requested for "minimal reference" to be made in Sue Gray's report to events being investigated by the Met Police, she added "this will only be necessary until these matters are concluded, and is to give detectives the most reliable picture of what happened at these events."

Furthermore she added that the Met Police "have not delayed this report and the timing of its release is a matter for the Cabinet Office inquiry team."

“The offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed penalty notice; accordingly our investigative actions will be proportionate to the nature of these offences."