Met Police reviewing resolution to not examine Downing Avenue Christmas quiz after photograph emerges

Scotland Yard is reviewing its evaluation that Downing Avenue’s 2020 Christmas quiz didn’t meet the brink for legal investigation, after a brand new picture emerged displaying Boris Johnson on the occasion.

The photograph, printed by the Each day Mirror, exhibits the prime minister with three members of workers – together with one carrying tinsel – round a desk with glowing wine and crisps.

Hours after the brand new photograph was printed on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police mentioned: “The Met beforehand assessed this occasion and decided that on the premise of the proof obtainable at the moment, it didn’t meet the brink for legal investigation. That evaluation is now being reviewed.”

The response means that the image was not among the many over 300 photos and 500 pages of knowledge Scotland Yard mentioned it had acquired from the Cupboard Workplace by the top of January.

Downing Avenue beforehand mentioned the quiz, held on 15 December 2020, befell just about however with some members of workers participating within the workplace.

It befell throughout a interval when indoor social mixing was banned in London, which was underneath tier two Covid restrictions.

The Mirror printed the photograph throughout prime minister’s questions, prompting a problem from shadow minister Fabian Hamilton.

The Labour MP mentioned the picture “appears lots like one of many Christmas events he instructed us by no means occurred”, asking: “Will the prime minister be referring that occasion to the police, as it isn’t one of many ones presently being investigated?”

Mr Johnson responded: “In what he has simply mentioned, I’m afraid he’s utterly in error.”

Challenged once more throughout the session, Mr Johnson added: “That occasion already has been submitted for investigation.”

The Metropolitan Police initially dominated the quiz out of its legal investigation, which was initially into 12 Downing Avenue and Whitehall occasions that will have damaged Covid legal guidelines.

Sue Grey’s interim report, printed final month, indicated that the power had excluded Downing Avenue’s festive quiz however was taking a look at a Cupboard Workplace Christmas quiz held two days later.

The opposite gatherings underneath investigation together with the prime minister’s birthday celebration on 19 June 2020, a “carry your individual booze” occasion in Downing Avenue’s backyard, an alleged Christmas occasion and several other leaving dos for No 10 and Cupboard Workplace workers.

The Metropolitan Police might be contacting individuals suspected for breaching Covid restrictions in writing and asking whether or not they had a “affordable excuse” in legislation for the gathering.

If they don’t, it may well concern fines of between £100 and £10,000, relying on the legislation that was in power on the time, and the scale of the gathering and the particular person’s function.