Scotland Yard investigation into No 10 Partygate scandal could cost more than £1million

Scotland Yard faced a furious reaction yesterday when it emerged that the Partygate investigation would cost more than £1million – at a time of skyrocketing crime rates.

Critics warned that the criminal investigation into parties in Downing Street and Whitehall will drain valuable resources as police fight an epidemic of violent and sex crimes.

The so-called ‘Celebrity Squad’ has been tasked with investigating eight parties in an extensive investigation, which police experts have estimated would cost more than £1 million and take at least six months.

Eight officers from the special investigation team, led by Commander Catherine Roper, have been assigned to the investigation, with more officers and personnel if needed, the Daily Mail has understood.

She will report her findings to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors.

Yesterday, the day after Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick bombarded the announcement of the investigation, MPs and former officers questioned the decision to divert the officers’ time and resources, while the overall detection rate of police force has fallen by almost a quarter in the past year alone.

Dame Cressida declined to set a limit or timetable for the investigation, promising the London Assembly: ‘Of course we’ll go where the evidence takes us.’

But Susan Hall, a member of the Tory Assembly who chaired the meeting, said it was “a matter of regret” that the investigation was prioritized after the capital experienced its worst year for homicides of teens and the rising number of violent and violent crimes last year. sexual crimes.

She said, “The Met detection rate is absolutely appalling. The teenage murder rate is absolutely appalling. I understand that the Commissioner has been placed in an impossible position and she felt that this was a matter of public trust for the police.

“However, I deeply regret that significant resources are being devoted to this instead of solving rapes and violent crimes.”

She added: “It seems absolutely ridiculous to be in this situation where there is a possibility of war with Russia over Ukraine.”

Last year, 30 teenagers were killed in London, the highest death toll since World War II.

Despite the force’s record number of 33,076 officers — the highest number in a decade — detection rates remain abysmal with 22 percent fewer crimes solved in 2021 than in 2020.

Among other disturbing figures, sex crimes in the capital rose by 26 percent and the number of reported rapes by 17 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Nevertheless, the number of solved sex crimes fell by 8 percent in the same period. Despite a task force being set up to address violence, crime continued to grow by 6 percent in 2021, while investigations fell by 20 percent.

Similarly, the number of solved burglaries has fallen by a quarter, the number of thefts has fallen by 21 percent, and the number of car theft cases has fallen by 27 percent.

Yesterday, former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘The main thing to focus on is the Met and gang violence in London, which is a major problem at the moment.

“There are concerns about scarce resources and problems with property crime. You rarely get a serious response from them on things like car crime.

“In my area and many others in London, there are serious concerns about the efficiency of the police in coming to the scene when property is involved and then solving something.

“There is a real wave of gang-led violence in London, it is now becoming synonymous.

“All this is a strain on the police and should be an absolute priority: to catch criminals and solve crimes. I was surprised by the decision to investigate this matter when there are many, many crimes that go uninvestigated.”

Tory MP Mark Jenkinson said: ‘It’s a shame. In Labor’s London, knife crime is through the roof and women don’t feel safe on the streets.

“And here we have ‘Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition’ cheering this colossal wasteland to the rafters.”

Conservative MP Crispin Blunt also weighed in, saying: “It’s not just an odd police priority, but it’s part of a national picture where we no longer remotely put this issue in the right perspective and context.

‘Of course this money – and the efforts of the officials who are the victims of this – could be put to much better use.’

Dai Davies, a former chief inspector and head of royalty protection at the Met, predicted the investigation would take more than six months and cost more than £1 million.

He said: ‘We are talking about fixed fines, something you get when you park on a double yellow line. How much is this really going to cost taxpayers to investigate? Although it is only a small team, the costs quickly add up.

“We are looking forward to at least six months for a preliminary report and I expect it to cost more than £1million. It’s bullshit – we’re talking about a few accomplices, officials getting fined. That’s the likely outcome.’