Met police chief under fire from MPs over ‘plebgate’ inquiry

MPs criticised the role of the Met police and its Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe over the investigation into the “Plebgate” row which eventually led to Mr Mitchell’s resignation.

Questions were put to Police Minister Damien Green by MPs after Sir Bernard at the weekend admitted discussing the criminal inquiry into “Plebgate” with journalists – and apparently broke his own rules by not keeping a record of the briefing.

Channel 4 News has also revealed letters from Conservative MP David Davis to Sir Bernard asking tough questions about whether the sensitive information leaked by the police chief supported the Met’s version of events – namely that police officers did not lie about what happened.

Mr Mitchell was forced to resign last December after damning headlines that accused him of calling police officers “plebs” for refusing to open Downing Street gates. A Channel 4 News investigation with Dispatches uncovered CCTV footage that appeared to contradict police reports from the scene, days later.

What now seems apparent is he was the victim of media spin at the highest level of the Metropolitan Police – Labour MP Tom Watson

Conservative MP Richard Ottaway told the House of Commons that Sir Bernard “has got a lot of questions to answer”, while David Davis asked the police minister to put in place a strict disciplinary code so that all police officers are forced to keep a record of all contact they have with the press.

Meanwhile Labour MP Tom Watson said the case showed how members of the public, who are not able to fight to clear their name via the media, are also vulnerable to “spin”.

“After a terribly bruising encounter at the hands of the media, Mr Mitchell attempted to clear his name in the press,” said Mr Watson.

“What now seems apparent is he was the victim of media spin at the highest level of the Metropolitan police. Do you understand that this case is particularly important, not because the wronged party was a member of parliament but because it could happen to any one of our constituents, who don’t have the vehicle to put this right?”

Read more: The ‘plebgate’ row eyewitness email – revealed

Speaking to MPs on Monday, Conservative MP Crispin Blunt pointed out that Operation Alice, the criminal investigation into the row overseen by the IPCC, has already taken eight months, cost £144,000 and involved interviews with over 800 police officers – and suggested that Channel 4’s Dispatches may be “more effective, and certainly more independent”.

‘Strict disciplinary code’ for Met

Meanwhile home affairs select committee chair Keith Vaz called on Mr Green to provide a timetable for when the investigation would be complete.

“The commissioner promised a ruthless search for the truth when he established Operation Alice but as Mr Ottaway has said, this has now taken eight months, involved 30 investigating police officers, and cost the taxpayer £144,000 for an incident in Downing Street that lasted 45 seconds,” he said.

Former Conservative shadow home secretary David Davis said all police officers should be subject to strict rules requiring them to keep a record of all meetings with the press.

“In view of the revelations in the last week, will the police minister put in place a strict disciplinary code that requires all police officers of all ranks to keep a comprehensive, accurate record of all contacts they have with the press?” he said.