The head of the police covering the Richmond Borough has given her support and thanks to Cressida Dick following the Commissioner's sudden departure.

Cressida Dick stepped down saying she could not continue after it became apparent the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, had lost confidence in her.

Chief Superintendent Elisabeth Chapple, the Basic Command Unit Commander for South West London Police, tweeted: "I am very sad about this as are all the teams in South West.

"We are losing a committed public servant, a wonderfully positive role model and a clever, thoughtful, values-led leader."

She was supported by her immediate predecessor, Sally Benatar, who tweeted: 'Well said, Lis'.

The Mayor had given the Commissioner the opportunity to explain how she would tackle failures around bullying, sexism, misogyny and homophobia.

At the same time, there has been evidence of appalling failures by police officers, including behaviour following the murder of Sarah Everard, and allegations of institutional corruption.

The Mayor said he was dissatisfied with a plan put forward by the Commissioner to deliver change, which triggered her resignation.

Anything that creates the impression of a rift between the capital's police service and the mayor, who operates at the Police and Crime Commissioner for London, is potentially disruptive.

The Lib-Dems, through their leader, the Kingston MP, Ed Davey, have been calling for the Commissioner to go for months following a series of scandals, including the alleged mishandling of investigations into the breaking of lockdown laws at Downing Street.

Police officers in the capital – through the Metropolitan Police Federation - have thrown their weight behind Cressida Dick, arguing she should have remained in place.