This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60387087
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mina Smallman: Dame Cressida Dick gaslighted me, says killed sisters' mum | Mina Smallman: Dame Cressida Dick gaslighted me, says killed sisters' mum |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mina Smallman says the Met Police Commissioner's comments were all about "protecting the brand", she said | Mina Smallman says the Met Police Commissioner's comments were all about "protecting the brand", she said |
| The mother of two killed sisters whose bodies were photographed by police officers said she was gaslighted by Dame Cressida Dick during the case. | The mother of two killed sisters whose bodies were photographed by police officers said she was gaslighted by Dame Cressida Dick during the case. |
| Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were murdered in Fryent Country Park in Wembley in June 2020. | Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were murdered in Fryent Country Park in Wembley in June 2020. |
| Two Met PCs were jailed for sharing photos of the murder scene and calling them "dead birds" in WhatsApp messages. | Two Met PCs were jailed for sharing photos of the murder scene and calling them "dead birds" in WhatsApp messages. |
| Their mother, Mina Smallman, said the Met Police chief tried to "create a smokescreen" around the PCs' behaviour. | Their mother, Mina Smallman, said the Met Police chief tried to "create a smokescreen" around the PCs' behaviour. |
| PC Deniz Jaffer, 47, and PC Jamie Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in November to misconduct in a public office. | PC Deniz Jaffer, 47, and PC Jamie Lewis, 33, pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey in November to misconduct in a public office. |
| The pair were guarding the scene where the bodies of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were found in June 2020. The officers left their post to take photos of the women's bodies and post the images in WhatsApp groups. | The pair were guarding the scene where the bodies of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry were found in June 2020. The officers left their post to take photos of the women's bodies and post the images in WhatsApp groups. |
| Sisters Bibaa Henry (left) and Nicole Smallman were repeatedly stabbed at Fryent Country Park in Wembley | Sisters Bibaa Henry (left) and Nicole Smallman were repeatedly stabbed at Fryent Country Park in Wembley |
| During the investigation into the officers' conduct, Dame Cressida implied it was "an isolated incident", the sisters' mother told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. | During the investigation into the officers' conduct, Dame Cressida implied it was "an isolated incident", the sisters' mother told BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. |
| "She kept saying 'this is a one-off, this is not happening, this is not usual'. | "She kept saying 'this is a one-off, this is not happening, this is not usual'. |
| "The photographs of our girls were taken in 2020 and Cressida Dick was on record and said 'If this is true, it's appalling'. | "The photographs of our girls were taken in 2020 and Cressida Dick was on record and said 'If this is true, it's appalling'. |
| "But she already knew there was an investigation going on", started in 2017, into WhatsApp groups of a police unit stationed at Charing Cross, Ms Smallman added. | "But she already knew there was an investigation going on", started in 2017, into WhatsApp groups of a police unit stationed at Charing Cross, Ms Smallman added. |
| Two weeks ago, the police watchdog said it had discovered "disgraceful" examples of harassment including misogynist, racist and homophobic messages sent and shared between some officers at Charing Cross police station. | Two weeks ago, the police watchdog said it had discovered "disgraceful" examples of harassment including misogynist, racist and homophobic messages sent and shared between some officers at Charing Cross police station. |
| "So she knew it wasn't an isolated incident. To behave as if [the conduct of the officers in Fryent Country Park] was incredible, was a lie." | "So she knew it wasn't an isolated incident. To behave as if [the conduct of the officers in Fryent Country Park] was incredible, was a lie." |
| Dame Cressida's comments tried to "minimise" the event and make her appear "unreasonable or emotional", Ms Smallman said. | Dame Cressida's comments tried to "minimise" the event and make her appear "unreasonable or emotional", Ms Smallman said. |
| When asked by Woman's Hour presenter Emma Barnett if she had been "gaslit", Ms Smallman replied "absolutely". | When asked by Woman's Hour presenter Emma Barnett if she had been "gaslit", Ms Smallman replied "absolutely". |
| Gaslighting is defined as manipulating someone into thinking they are wrong even when they are right, and can make someone question their own mental wellbeing. | |
| 'Protecting the brand' | 'Protecting the brand' |
| The Met Police apologised after the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), found the force had mismanaged their investigation when the two sisters were first reported missing. | The Met Police apologised after the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), found the force had mismanaged their investigation when the two sisters were first reported missing. |
| "It took the IOPC five years to discover what myself and my family knew to be true in six months," Ms Smallman said. | "It took the IOPC five years to discover what myself and my family knew to be true in six months," Ms Smallman said. |
| "They hide behind these investigations. They hope we'll all forget and something bigger will come out and deflect from our personal agonies." | "They hide behind these investigations. They hope we'll all forget and something bigger will come out and deflect from our personal agonies." |
| Following the report, Dame Cressida's responses were all about "protecting the brand", Ms Smallman said. | Following the report, Dame Cressida's responses were all about "protecting the brand", Ms Smallman said. |
| "In allowing this kind of behaviour to go unpunished it proliferates and becomes bigger, and bigger, and bigger," she added. | "In allowing this kind of behaviour to go unpunished it proliferates and becomes bigger, and bigger, and bigger," she added. |
| On Thursday, Met Police chief Cressida Dick said it was with "sadness and regret" that she was resigning | On Thursday, Met Police chief Cressida Dick said it was with "sadness and regret" that she was resigning |
| Ms Smallman was one of the first voices to call on Dame Cressida to resign, which she eventually did on 10 February. | Ms Smallman was one of the first voices to call on Dame Cressida to resign, which she eventually did on 10 February. |
| Dame Cressida said she had been left with "no choice" but to step down last Thursday after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan made it clear to her he had no confidence in her leadership. | Dame Cressida said she had been left with "no choice" but to step down last Thursday after Mayor of London Sadiq Khan made it clear to her he had no confidence in her leadership. |
| Her successor will be appointed by the home secretary, in consultation with the mayor of London. | Her successor will be appointed by the home secretary, in consultation with the mayor of London. |
| Priti Patel has said the new Metropolitan Police commissioner must tackle police culture and conduct. | Priti Patel has said the new Metropolitan Police commissioner must tackle police culture and conduct. |