Met Police to investigate 50 Downing Street ‘partygoers’ this week

More than 50 people are being quizzed by the Metropolitan Police as part of its Downing Street ‘partygate’ investigation.

In an update on the inquiry, the force said ‘formal questionnaires’ will be sent out this week as it begins contacting people believed to have taken part in the events to get their accounts.

In what will now be known as Operation Hillman, the Met is investigating alleged breaches of Covid regulations inside Downing Street.

Officers are looking through more than 500 documents and 300 images provided to them by the Cabinet Office in relation to eight dates between May 20 2020 and April 16 2021.

The questionnaire ‘asks for an account and explanation of the recipient’s participation in an event, has formal legal status and must be answered truthfully,’ the Met said.

‘Recipients are informed that responses are required within seven days. In most cases contact is being made via email.’

It comes after the force announced that it is reviewing whether to look again at a ‘Christmas Quiz’ said to have taken place in Downing Street on December 15.

No 10 has consistently said this event was virtual and the Met had ruled out including it in the investigation because it was believed that it did not meet the threshold for a criminal inquiry.

But earlier the Daily Mirror published a new picture of Boris Johnson at the event, close to an open bottle of bubbly and flanked by his staff members who are decked out in tinsel.

The Met said there may be a need to contact further people in the coming days and weeks – should they be identified as having taken part in an event and having potentially breached regulations.

Its statement added: ‘It should be noted that being contacted does not mean a fixed penalty notice will necessarily be issued to that person.

‘Nevertheless, if following an investigation, officers believe it is appropriate because the Covid regulations have been breached without a reasonable excuse, a fixed penalty notice will normally be issued.’

It is not known if the Prime Minister is among the 50 people being contacted this week.

Mr Johnson has previously said he will cooperate fully with the inquiry and speak to police if required.

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