The search for a new Met commissioner is an unwelcome distraction for the force as its investigation into alleged rule-breaking parties held at Downing Street reaches a critical stage.
Scotland Yard and the government insist the probe of lockdown gatherings “will not be affected”.
Officers from Operation Hillman were set to begin contacting more than 50 attendees, thought to include Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie. It could see many receive fixed penalty notices.
The Met said Op Hillman continues as normal under the leadership of Commander Catherine Roper, head of the “celebrity squad”, otherwise known as the Special Enquiry Team.
Her boss Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors will oversee it and holds a rank equivalent to that of a deputy chief constable.
Department for Transport minister Robert Courts, asked what Dame Cressida’s removal meant for the “partygate” inquiry, told Sky News: “Police are very used to handling matters where there are different parties involved.
“They are totally independent and I have absolute confidence in their ability to operationally carry out an investigation.
“So they will do that and they will do that in a way that is independent – that will not be affected by the role at the top of the Met.”
The force has repeatedly come under fire for its handling of parties in Downing Street and Whitehall at a time when ordinary members of the public faced police raids and crippling fines for holding gatherings during the pandemic.
Scotland Yard was at first criticised for failing to investigate the events earlier.
When Op Hillman started in January amid intensive pressure, more and more allegations emerged.
Now detectives are examining more than 500 documents and 300 images provided to them by the Cabinet Office.
There was widespread anger when the Met asked senior civil servant Sue Gray to only make “minimal reference” to No 10 events in her dossier.
The Met argued the constraints on the Cabinet Office report into “partygate” are necessary to “avoid any prejudice to our investigation”.
But this prompted accusations that police were trying to delay the release of the full findings.
Dame Cressida was also forced to defend officers on duty in Westminster as questions were raised on how the gatherings were able to take place at a site with a heavy police presence.
She said the officers were there to provide “protective security” but refused to be drawn on “anything they may have seen or heard”.
