Boris Johnson has avoided a criminal investigation into his relationship with the American businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri while he was mayor of London.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) concluded that no criminal inquiry was required following an eight-month scoping exercise into whether Johnson should be investigated for misconduct in public office over his friendship with Arcuri.
But the London Assembly said it will resume its investigation after the decision, with Len Duvall, the Greater London Authority’s oversight committee chair, saying: “The IOPC was looking specifically at whether he committed a criminal offence. That’s not our remit and their decision doesn’t have any real bearing on our investigation, which will focus on his conduct as Mayor of London.”
Johnson was formally referred to the watchdog in September because he was the head of the mayor’s office for policing and crime at a time when Arcuri received public money and access to trade trips led by him when he was mayor. Arcuri was awarded thousands of pounds in public money, including £11,500 by the mayor’s promotional agency London & Partners.
Johnson’s office also intervened to give her a place on trade missions to New York and Tel Aviv with Johnson, after she was initially turned down because she failed to meet the criteria.
Johnson has always insisted that he acted with “full propriety” and claimed he had no interest to declare in Arcuri. Arcuri has said that she was given no favours by Johnson, but she conceded that the then mayor should have declared their friendship.
The IOPC has repeatedly insisted that it has been under no pressure from the government over the decision, which was expected before last December’s general election, or over its timing. The IOPC has a duty to investigate any alleged criminal offence committed by a figure in charge of policing, whether or not they are still in office.
The IOPC’s view that prime minister does not have a criminal case to answer will come as huge relief to Downing Street. But Johnson is still likely to face scrutiny on the matter by a City Hall watchdog.
The London assembly’s oversight committee had put its inquiry into Johnson’s conduct on hold at the request of the IOPC.
Duvall added: “Everyone who holds public office, whether you’re the mayor of London, or indeed the prime minister, is expected to adhere to the principles of public life - including integrity, selflessness, openness and honesty, to name a few.
“Our investigation will consider whether Johnson conducted himself in a way that’s expected from anyone in that position. It’s important we get those answers, because Londoners deserve to have their politicians held accountable.
“The oversight committee will take into account the current emergency when looking at the timetable for the investigation.”
The committee has also threatened to use its power to summon Johnson to answer questions as it did over the “garden bridge” fiasco.
The oversight committee works to a lower standard of proof than the “beyond reasonable doubt” threshold required for criminal action, but cannot apply any sanction other than a public report.
source https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/may/21/boris-johnson-will-not-face-criminal-inquiry-over-jennifer-arcuri
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