Met Police Chief Admits Force Erred in Cambridge Plagiarism Investigation

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has publicly admitted that his force erred by investigating a journalist probing plagiarism claims against Cambridge University professor Jason Arday, rather than the professor himself.

The controversy unfolded when the Met was found to have investigated a reporter who was looking into academic plagiarism allegations against Professor Arday, a move widely criticised as a chilling effect on press freedom and legitimate journalism.

Sir Mark said the police dropped the ball in how the case was handled, and he acknowledged the investigation into the journalist was inappropriate. He promised internal reviews to understand how the error occurred.

Professor Arday subsequently resigned from Cambridge after the plagiarism allegations. The case has raised serious questions about the university's vetting processes and diversity hiring practices, as well as about the Metropolitan Police's response to journalistic inquiries.