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Original poster

Imagine the shame you would feel if you were Cressida Dick now.

111 replies

Sep200024 · 21/03/2023 11:40

It’s just unfathomable.

I’ve held senior roles with something of a weight of responsibility on my shoulders before. It’s not easy.

But to have it made so public that you are responsible for such a vast level of incompetence in such a vital public service organisation must be crippling.

To know the suffering, the injustices, and the lives that have been lost because of your policies and your decisions.

I don’t know how she lives with herself.

OP posts:
Brefugee · 21/03/2023 17:08

I also think it's a dangerous path to go down: she's a woman and therefore can't be criticised? fuck that

luckylavender · 21/03/2023 17:14

Blackberrycream · 21/03/2023 13:01

There’s no shame there.
Wasn’t she complaining not long ago that her authority was undermined by the mayor stating he had no confidence in her leadership. Not a bit of self reflection on why that might be the case.
She should never have been appointed. Her instructions on the day of the killing of Charles de Menezes were deleted. She never accepted any accountability for that incident. Her statements at the time we’re insulting to the victim and his family. They campaigned against her appointment and the message it sent.
The officers who took and shared pictures of the bodies of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman were given written warnings. The mother of the sisters fought for this case to be taken seriously. Eventually they were charged and faced justice. Mina Smallman called for Cressida Dick to stand down.
Could she have solved the problems in the met during her tenure? Maybe not but she could have done a hell of a lot better and cared a whole lot more. This is not misogyny. It is nothing to do with her being a woman.

She was at the heart of a lot of Met failings over the years. Not just Jean-Charles, but Carl Beech, Daniel Morgan, the whole Sarah Everard policing etc. She represents the worse of the police and could have made steps to change it.

Notegoat · 21/03/2023 17:15

It’s hard of thinking to blame one person who was in the job for five years for everything that’s wrong with the Met. This has gone on for decades.

Crinkle77 · 21/03/2023 17:16

JohnNutLips · 21/03/2023 11:54

It won’t just be the Met - the whole UK police force is like this.
anyone who has known men working in the force over the last 50 years should know what it is like, the only reason it’s coming out now is that there is more diversity in the force and it’s harder to hide the attitudes in question.
The force attracts a type of person on a quest for power. I’m not surprised by any of it.

Yep totally agree with this and like you don't understand why people are surprised.

LaviniasBigBloomers · 21/03/2023 17:20

I refuse to blame a woman for decades of corruption. I refuse to make a woman the figurehead for decades of men's wrongdoing.

She has her own part to answer for, but blaming her means everyone else gets off Scot-free and is simple misogyny.

ForTheLoveOfSleep · 21/03/2023 17:27

Notegoat · 21/03/2023 17:15

It’s hard of thinking to blame one person who was in the job for five years for everything that’s wrong with the Met. This has gone on for decades.

And in that 5 years she did fuck all to change it eveb though she had the power to. She came up through the ranks just as every comissioner before her and, with them, she shares the blame. She turned her head to everything she knew was going on. Police stick together. Every officer, male or female, is guilty of turning a blind eye. They stick together. All that matters is making the force look good.

Partyandbullshit · 21/03/2023 17:37

LaviniasBigBloomers · 21/03/2023 17:20

I refuse to blame a woman for decades of corruption. I refuse to make a woman the figurehead for decades of men's wrongdoing.

She has her own part to answer for, but blaming her means everyone else gets off Scot-free and is simple misogyny.

Oh give over. As though a woman should be absolved of responsibility and blame purely because she's in possession of a vagina. If you want equality, this is equality. She's just as culpable as every Commissioner before her. No more. No less. Nobody is blaming her and only her, and if they are they don't have even the beginning of an understanding of this situation. Turning Cressida Dick into a poster-child of misogyny is every shade of wrong.

Partyandbullshit · 21/03/2023 17:40

AnyFucker · 21/03/2023 16:25

I am not sure what to make of Ms Dick

Whether she is

  1. completely inept and was promoted waaaay beyond her ability to be used as a political stooge or

  2. a complete sociopath

The amount of self-serving politicking, cynicism and turning of blind eyes (if not outright underhand behaviour) required to get to Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, would make most decent members of the public sick to their stomachs. It's 2. Not a shadow of a doubt. Cressida Dick can look after herself, she doesn't need any of us.

Yesthatismychildsigh · 21/03/2023 17:42

Don’t be so silly OP. To feel shame you need morals and integrity.

HavfrueDenizKisi · 21/03/2023 17:48

@Saschka

But paramedics and fireman generally aren't like that.

Er I think you'll find the London Fire Brigade is under 'special measures' for pretty much the same behaviour.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-63969181

KTSl1964 · 21/03/2023 17:49

Glad to see this thread as I was looking to start one. It’s shocking to me how Cressida did not do anything to route out some of the issues raised whilst she was in her position. She must have experience it “climbing the ranks” - she choose to ignore it. Maybe it’s an attitude of “cant beat them, join them”
I really hope change is coming and we can have trust in the police and female police offices, lesbian and homosexuals ones feel safe at work.
I saw two police officers the other day in McDonalds and I felt contempt for them. They maybe great police officers but damage has clearly been done to the general public and a lot of work and change needs to occur.

Piggywaspushed · 21/03/2023 17:55

Was just coming on to point that out hav !

The Met ahs already today denied institutional racism, just as they tried to with Stephen Lawrence. It seems they will never learn.

feellikeanalien · 21/03/2023 17:58

Cattenberg · 21/03/2023 12:01

How on earth did she get the job on the first place after presiding over the series of errors which led to the death of Jean-Charles de Menezes?

I always wondered this.

Piggywaspushed · 21/03/2023 18:06

And apparently the Met press office has declined to put forward anyone to speak to C4 news.

TooBigForMyBoots · 21/03/2023 18:06

LaviniasBigBloomers · 21/03/2023 17:20

I refuse to blame a woman for decades of corruption. I refuse to make a woman the figurehead for decades of men's wrongdoing.

She has her own part to answer for, but blaming her means everyone else gets off Scot-free and is simple misogyny.

How does everyone else get off Scott-free?Hmm I hope every piece of shit in the MET get what they deserve. Including Cressida Dick.

WinterMusings · 21/03/2023 18:07

SerendipityJane · 21/03/2023 13:04

She managed an operation that saw an innocent mans head turned into tomato soup.

So I don't think there can be any capability for shame there whatsoever.

What's that you say ? At least she wasn't promoted after that ? Get real, she was promoted and honoured. This is the UK.

@SerendipityJane your first comment was completely unnecessary & gross. Imagine his family & friends having to read that.

CD should never have been appointed. She undeniably made things worse, not better, but blaming her for this shit show, just lets all the MEN off the hook.

Blossomtoes · 21/03/2023 18:11

Notegoat · 21/03/2023 17:15

It’s hard of thinking to blame one person who was in the job for five years for everything that’s wrong with the Met. This has gone on for decades.

She didn’t do much to put it right. She didn’t even acknowledge it. And she’s just walked off into the sunset with a huge pension. It’s a disgrace.

LlynTegid · 21/03/2023 18:16

Whilst I don't think Cressida Dick should be blamed for all or even much of the failings, which go back many years, I do not think she should have been appointed.

Previous home secretaries, Commissioners, and the current/previous Mayor have all failed in one way or another.

I think that taking away counter-terrorism and some other responsibilities, and moving some parts of the Met to other forces, should be a part of the response.

Motnight · 21/03/2023 18:21

She was appointed by a corrupt system and did nothing to change it. Why should she? She had shown that she made a terrible series of decisions resulting in the death of someone and not only get away with it but be rewarded.

DelphiniumBlue · 21/03/2023 18:22

PronounssheRa · 21/03/2023 12:10

I don't think the Mayor of London should be let off the hook so easily either

Yes that was my first thought, as Mayor he has responsibility for the Met.

Notegoat · 21/03/2023 18:30

’She came up through the ranks just as every commissioner before her and, with them, she shares the blame.’

That I agree with.

The ‘bad apples’ defence is still being put forward (Dominic Raab is the latest) but racism, misogyny, and homophobia are built into the Met. No one who has come through that culture to reach the top job could be considered a suitable candidate to reform it. To reach that rank every one of them will have been guilty of ignoring complaints from officers who reported harassment by other officers.

Brefugee · 21/03/2023 18:34

Oh give over. As though a woman should be absolved of responsibility and blame purely because she's in possession of a vagina. If you want equality, this is equality. She's just as culpable as every Commissioner before her. No more. No less.

yepp.

As for all the "don't blame her for it all" pack it in. She was at the top of the organisation. Who else should start the ball rolling on getting rid of the rapists the misogynists and the racists?

As the saying goes: a fish stinks from the head

newnamethanks · 21/03/2023 18:45

Will the Tory Party still be a party when Bunter has finished with it? How will we be able to tell?

newnamethanks · 21/03/2023 18:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

TenterfieldSaddler · 21/03/2023 19:00

Saschka · 21/03/2023 13:19

But paramedics and firemen generally aren’t like that. Firemen in particular are just spectacularly nice to the general public.

The Met Police have a very “them and us” victim mentality. If you aren’t a copper, you are the enemy. A&E staff - enemies. Members of the public - enemies. Victims of crime - enemies, and liars.

This inquiry - enemies. So no need to listen to it or make any changes. Cressida Dick will be digging into her bunker, as will the current leadership team.

Show quote history

I suspect tarring all 30,000 met officers with this brush that they are corrupt or lack any empathy at all is not only vastly generalised but downright wrong.
I know a few paramedics who are shitheads, some who are narcissists and some who are misogynists. I know a few sexist firemen. Does this make them all the same? No, because I’m able to see that the principles lacking in poor leadership do not apply to the people they are leading without exception.