Cressida Dick, the first woman to lead the Metropolitan Police in London, said she had "no choice but to step aside" after London mayor Sadiq Khan expressed dissatisfaction with her leadership.
"I say this with deep sadness and regret," the UK's most senior police officer, wearing her uniform, said in a televised statement.
The Scotland Yard chief defended her position and her department's work by thanking her coworkers for the "extraordinary efforts you make every day."
After a meeting last week where he insisted on broad changes to "root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination, and misogyny" in the force, Khan said Thursday he was "not satisfied with the commissioner's response."
Dick expressed her "deep sadness" but added, "it is clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient faith in my leadership to allow me to continue." She was supposed to be in charge of the service until 2024.
Her abrupt announcement comes as her police force investigates Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "Partygate" scandal, which involves alleged parties violating coronavirus restrictions.
Dick said she would stay on for a short time to "ensure the Met's stability."
Confidence issues
In tweets, Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel praised her accomplishments.
"I thank her for her role in protecting the public and making our streets safer," Johnson said. At the same time, Patel praised Dick's "steadfast dedication to protecting our capital city and its people" during "challenging times."
After high-profile scandals such as the rape and murder of Sarah Everard, kidnapped and murdered by then-police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021, the 61-year-old had long faced calls for her resignation.
The case "brought shame" to the force, according to Dick.
After falsely arresting the 33-year-old marketing executive for violating coronavirus restrictions, Couzens snatched her. He has been sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.
Dick was also chastised for the police response at an Everard vigil in a London park, when officers fought with the primarily female crowd and physically restrained demonstrators, arresting four people.
In her resignation statement, Dick mentioned "the murder of Sarah Everard," saying that this and "many other awful cases recently have, I know, damaged confidence in this fantastic police service."
She was "very optimistic about the future for the Met and for London," adding that the force "has turned its full attention to rebuilding public trust and confidence."
Khan expressed his "utter disgust" earlier this month after an independent watchdog revealed that London police had exchanged "shocking" racist, sexist, and homophobic messages.
AFP