Top female Yard officer faces discrimination inquiry

A senior woman officer at Scotland Yard is under investigation over allegations she blocked a male colleague’s promotion.

Commander Christine Jones, who is in charge of policing north London, is being investigated by the police watchdog over allegations involving her “honesty and integrity”.

The officer, who was responsible for security at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011, is said to have written misleading references. She is said to have discriminated against the male officer by misrepresenting others’ views on his application.

The claims are not believed to involve issues of race.

Ms Jones, who is the national lead for mental health and policing, is the second senior Yard officer to be embroiled in an internal investigation in recent weeks. Assistant Commissioner Pat Gallan, the country’s most senior ethnic minority woman officer, is facing a bullying complaint by a male commander.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has launched an investigation into the latest allegations involving Ms Jones.

The watchdog will also examine whether the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards failed to act properly over an initial complaint relating to the alleged incident.