Top police chief says Met has no ‘God-given right’ to exist without public trust

Martin Hewitt, outgoing NPCC chair, says new leader deserves time to turn things around after series of scandals

The Metropolitan police has no “God-given right” to exist in its current size and form if it cannot regain the trust and confidence it has haemorrhaged after a series of scandals, the leader of Britain’s police chiefs has said.

Martin Hewitt, chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, said that the new Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, had been unflinching in taking on the challenges facing Britain’s biggest force and deserved time to turn it around.