Cressida Dick - is she really the UK's most senior police officer...

[WildRosie]

...or this a London-centric media invention ? I'm prepared to be told I'm wrong; I know CD is Commisioner of the Metropolitan Police but I would be surprised if she outranked a Chief Constable from another force. I would guess the closest the UK has to a 'top cop' is the Home Secretary.

Yes, I think it is, it is appointed and announced by the Home Secretary and mps. Which is not the same as being a chief constable.

Why?

The Met police are the ‘first among equals’ of police forces, and as the chief constable equivalent of the Met, yes, she’s the most senior police officer.

I would say Lynne Owens as head of the NCA is possibly the top cop as I believe she outranks Cressida Dick and can override her if it were ever necessary. Both are under the direction of Priti Patel.

The Home Secretary is definitely not a cop, and thank God we have such clear delineation between executive and law enforcement in our country.

Oh good point about Lynne Owens (who is amazing).

Thankyou all. It isn't the first time I've heard the Met Commissioner described as such but I've heard the phrase several times today as well as in years past. It got me wondering how accurate the description was.

So glad to see all our top cops (not Patel) are female.

Yes it's a shame for Lynne Owens and Cressida Dick that Priti Patel heads up that side of things really...

Yes she is.

Unfortunate that her boss the Home Secretary is a bully.

She’s also a dame.

Home Secretaries come and go ...