[pip08456]

Originally Posted by Hugh

I had a chat about the latest events with my CPS friend, and they pointed this out to me…



https://twitter.com/crimelinelaw/sta...541153792?s=12

However, they did deem it "unusual" that this would happen if it was only about Fixed Penalty Notices - normally, this might occur if it was about a potential interview strategy for something more than a FPN; if someone gave an statement to the Gray Inquiry that was not matched by another’s statement, the police might not want to let the first person know this until after it’s been followed up.

It is only about FPN's

The MPS has today received material from the Cabinet Office to support its investigation

News - 28 January 2022 18:55
The MPS has today received material from the Cabinet Office to support its investigation

The Cabinet Office has been conducting an inquiry into allegations of breaches of Covid regulations and guidance in Downing Street and Whitehall. As a result of the information provided by the Cabinet Office team, and assessments by Met officers, the Commissioner announced an investigation on Tuesday 25 January.

The MPS has today, Friday 28 January, received the material it requested from the Cabinet Office to support its investigation into potential breaches of Covid-19 regulations at a number of events in Downing Street and Whitehall. The material was accepted by detectives from the Special Enquiry Team which is leading the investigation.

Commander Catherine Roper, who leads the Met’s Central Specialist Crime Command, said: “My officers will now examine this material in detail to establish whether individuals attending the events in question may have breached the regulations. They will do so without fear or favour following our normal processes.

“In order to protect the integrity of the police investigation, as is appropriate in any case, and to be as fair as possible to those who are subject to it, the Met has asked for minimal reference to be made in the Cabinet Office report to the relevant events. This will only be necessary until these matters are concluded, and is to give detectives the most reliable picture of what happened at these events. We intend to complete our investigations promptly, fairly and proportionately.

“We have not delayed this report and the timing of its release is a matter for the Cabinet Office inquiry team.

“The offences under investigation, where proven, would normally result in the issuing of a fixed penalty notice; accordingly our investigative actions will be proportionate to the nature of these offences.

“Individuals who are identified as having potentially breached these regulations will normally be contacted in writing, and invited to explain their actions including whether they feel they had a reasonable excuse.

“Following this process, and where there is sufficient evidence that individuals have breached the regulations without reasonable excuse, officers will decide if enforcement action is appropriate. If the decision is to take enforcement action then a report will be sent to the ACRO Criminal Records Office which will issue the fixed penalty notice. Recipients can pay the fixed penalty and the matter will be considered closed."

https://news.met.police.uk/news/the-...igation-441503