Cressida Dick: Retired officers and volunteers could be drafted in if coronavirus impacts police

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said retired police officers and volunteers could be drafted in to make up numbers if coronavirus causes staff shortages.

She said the police service needed to be flexible and plans had been in place for a while to protect mission-critical services.

Ms Dick said it was not down to her whether to ban mass gatherings or events.

But she said any event that is cancelled freed officers to be deployed elsewhere and that she was sure the Government will be looking at how to reduce the pressure on public services.

Dame Cressida said if a situation arises where officers need protective health equipment the Met will make sure it is available.