BRITAIN’S top cop has revealed she considered investigating the Tory leadership contenders for taking drugs.
Cressida Dick said she personally examined the wannabe PMs’ confessions that they had broken the law when younger, to see if charges could still be brought.
But she decided that their law-breaking was too long ago and there would be no evidence to back up a prosecution, leaving them in the clear.
Her comments will bring some relief to Michael Gove, who admitted taking cocaine on “several occasions” more than 20 years ago, and Boris Johnson, who said he had one “single inconclusive incident” with the Class A substance when he was a teenager. Jeremy Hunt said he drank a “cannabis lassi” while backpacking in India and Rory Stewart smoked opium at a wedding in Iran 15 years ago.
However they could still face awkward questions when they next fly to the USA as strict visa rules require visitors to declare if they have ever broken drugs laws, and anyone found to have previously lied on their forms can be barred entry.
‘WE WON’T BE DOING ANY INVESTIGATING’
Speaking to LBC radio yesterday, Met commissioner Ms Dick said: “We have had a very quick look at all the things that have been in the public domain. I looked at it myself.
“I just said to my team, somebody’s going to ask me the exact question. I think I know the answer but let’s just double check.
“The answer is on the basis of what we know, on what we’ve seen, there is no sign whatsoever that there would be sufficient evidence to take somebody to court, so we won’t be doing any investigating.”
She explained that for the Crown Prosecution Service to bring charges, they must be sure there is evidence and that it would be in the public interest to proceed.
“Of course with things being so historic, it’s almost certainly not in the public interest but actually in the cases that we have read about, and I’m not talking about any of them specifically, but in all those cases there is no sign that there would be sufficient evidence.”
Ms Dick also defended Mr Johnson’s neighbours for ringing 999 after they overheard him having a blazing row with girlfriend Carrie Symonds.
“I think it is important that people call the police when they’re worried about somebody, of course.
“I’m a police officer and we ask people to tell us if they’re worried about somebody.”
She said she had “no view” as to whether neighbours should tape arguments but went on: “It can be helpful for us if there is evidence of a crime, of course, that we’re then going to be investigating, if somebody has made some sort of recording that can be very helpful.”