The Met Police referring the Met Police to the police watchdog went really meta
London’s Metropolitan Police Force – the Met – has been the subject of much frustration in the eyes of the public, after repeatedly refusing to open a criminal investigation into apparent coronavirus rule-breaking in Downing Street.
The Met investigating Downing Street parties. pic.twitter.com/TdhtpISfe5
— Angry Scotland Podcast🎙 (@AngryScotland) December 20, 2021
Claims that they don’t investigate Covid-related crime retrospectively and that there simply wasn’t enough evidence were met with considerable scorn.
BREAKING: The prime minister has confirmed that if you murdered someone over 12 months ago, you can just tell the police they are not allowed to retrospectively investigate you
— Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@BBCLauraKT) December 5, 2021
‘We don’t retrospectively investigate whether the Mayor broke the law’ pic.twitter.com/mWA8KTQSke
— Toby Earle (@TobyonTV) December 4, 2021
Yes, but apart from the pictures and the emails showing the party was planned days in advance and the list of people at the Downing St gate and the witnesses and the leaks and the funny team names, where’s the evidence that there was a Xmas party?
(CC Met Police)— David Schneider (@davidschneider) December 15, 2021
BREAKING: Cressida Dick has clarified the Met are going to need more than photographic proof before they can investigate the wine and cheese party
— Laura Kuenssberg Translator (@BBCLauraKT) December 21, 2021
The Green Party’s Baroness Jones complained to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the situation, with the findings swiftly going in her favour.
UPDATE: My complaint against the Met Police is now being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Complaints, and has additionally been referred to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime. Downing Street parties must be investigated! #PartyGate
— Jenny Jones (@GreenJennyJones) December 21, 2021
By a weird coincidence, the Met immediately decided to refer itself to the IOPC for failure to investigate the alleged parties in Downing Street.
NEW: The Met Police has referred itself to the police watchdog over its decision not to investigate the Downing Street Christmas party despite video evidence leaked to @itvnews.
https://t.co/5cukfpR4sX— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) December 21, 2021
It seemed a little meta. Tweeters had some thoughts on the matter.
1.
the Met have now referred the Met to the Met to investigate the Met for not investigating Xmas parties at no.10 but its not clear if the Met will be able to investigate the Met because the Met does not investigate things in the past which all sounds perfectly normal yes
— dave ❄️ 🥕 🧻 (@davemacladd) December 21, 2021
2.
Who does the watchdog refer itself to if they decide not to investigate the Met due to a lack of evidence? This could get recursive. https://t.co/nCe4wZ1yKz
— Sam Freedman (@Samfr) December 21, 2021
3.
Absolutely comical.@metpoliceuk #OneRuleForThem #DowninStParty https://t.co/Rl9bY6uWLS
— Incorrigible FCA (@ImIncorrigible) December 21, 2021
4.
Legit thought this was a parody account at first. Jesus wept. https://t.co/7xmOAg3AVZ
— Lexi Rose ⭐️ (@misslexirose) December 21, 2021
5.
Wouldn't it be simpler if the @metpoliceuk investigated the Downing Street parties?
— Ray Casey (@raycasey2003) December 21, 2021
6.
You know you’re in trouble when you need an investigation to understand why an investigation wasn’t investigated.
— Geoff Wilton (@geoffwilton2) December 21, 2021
7.
I wonder if the Police will let the Police go with just a caution…
Met refers itself to police watchdog over handling of Downing Street Christmas party allegations https://t.co/P4KzB1LnA7
— Martin Delaney (@1MartinDelaney) December 21, 2021
8.
Nothing says "innocent" like
* Reports of it happening,
* Film of staff joking about it happening,
* Appointing a guy to investigate it who was himself guilty of the same,
* The Met having to report itself for not investigating it happening. https://t.co/1qFxuKK9DP— Mike Holden 💙 (@MikeHolden42) December 21, 2021
9.
Reminding me strongly of the time my mother's bank held an "internal investigation" into whether they had missold her ISAs when she was suffering from dementia. Found themselves innocent. https://t.co/UNYaKDktlv
— Otto English (@Otto_English) December 21, 2021
10.
I look forward to the police watchdog referring itself to the ‘police watchdog watchdog’ for not investigating the Met that referred itself to the police watchdog for not investigating the illegal parties. I’m so tired, can we vote in something else soon? https://t.co/c32nLTCOOW
— Brendan May (@bmay) December 21, 2021
11.
'Im sorry sir, the Police Commissioner told me not to investigate the crime. Now he's referred me to Internal Affairs.' pic.twitter.com/C32AumMcnH
— Amjad Khan 💙 🇪🇺 (@SmartCircleComm) December 21, 2021
There could be a way to save all this fuss in the future.
Wouldn’t it just make more sense to replace the Met with the police watchdog full stop? https://t.co/cgBOHq02XA
— Mark O'Neill (@marxculture) December 21, 2021
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Source Paul Brand Image Screengrab
