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She was effectively sacked after failing to draw up an acceptable plan to root out racism, misogyny and homophobia within the Metropolitan Police. The Commissioner, 61, had been put on notice last week following revelations about officers who swapped highly-offensive messages on social media.

Last night Mr Khan said: “I made clear to the Commissioner the scale of the change I believe is urgently required to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners in the Met and to root out the racism, sexism, homophobia, bullying, discrimination and misogyny that still exists.

“I am not satisfied with the Commissioner’s response. On being informed of this, Dame Cressida Dick has said she will be standing aside.

“It’s clear the only way to start to deliver the scale of the change required is to have new leadership at the top of the Metropolitan Police.”

Dame Cressida will stay for a short time while her successor is chosen.

Cressida Dick resigns as Met Police Commissioner

Metropolitan Police Federation Chairman Ken Marsh said forcing Dame Cressida out had left a leadership void at a critical time.

Mr Marsh said: “Cressida Dick should have been given the opportunity and time to build back trust in the Metropolitan Police.

“She has been denied that. She should have been treated better.”

Mr Khan did not inform Home Secretary Priti Patel of his intention to request a meeting with Dame Cressida, it was claimed last night.

Home Office sources said Ms Patel was not impressed by this and thought it was “rude and unprofessional”.

The Mayor said: “I would like to thank Dame Cressida Dick for her 40 years of dedicated public service, with the vast majority spent at the Met where she was the first woman to become Commissioner.

“In particular, I commend her for the recent work in helping us to bring down violent crime in London – although there is more to do.

“I will now work closely with the Home Secretary on the appointment of a new Commissioner so we can move quickly to restore trust in the capital’s police service.”

The ousting after five years in the role was a bitter blow to Dame Cressida who had declared war on the racists and sexists within the force.

She told BBC radio she and her top brass had read the riot act to the ranks. Investigators had exposed the toxic culture among a group of officers at Charing Cross police station in London’s West End.

They swapped threats to rape female colleagues and jokes about black children, hitting women and the Holocaust. But the police watchdog made it clear the disgraceful behaviour was not confined to one station or force.

The Charing Cross scandal was the latest in a stream of controversies faced by Dame Cressida. In her resignation statement, she said: “It is with huge sadness that it is clear the Mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership to continue. He has left me no choice but to step aside.”

The force has been rocked by a series of blows – the worst being the murder of Sarah Everard by PC Wayne Couzens.

As Mayor, Mr Khan holds the met chief to account and has a key role in deciding who gets the post. But it is the Home Secretary who appoints the Commissioner.

Ms Patel said of Dame Cressida: “She has exemplified the increasingly diverse nature of our police.”

Martin Hewitt, of the National Police Chiefs Council, said: “Dame Cressida cares deeply about the people of London.”

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