Police formally asked to investigate Dominic Cummings' trip during Covid-19 lockdown

Police have been formally asked to investigate a “plethora” of information surrounding Dominic Cummings’ controversial visit to the County Durham area during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Dominic Cummings is facing growing calls to resign - or be sacked - for his journey during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Mr Cummings, the prime minister’s chief adviser, has been at the centre of a growing scandal since it emerged he, along with his wife and young child, drove 260 miles from his London home to his parents’ farm in late March.

Amid further calls for Mr Cummings to resign or be sacked by Boris Johnson, Durham’s police and crime commissioner has made it clear there should be an investigation into any potential breach of the law or coronavirus self-isolation regulations.

Steve White, the force’s acting police, crime, and victims’ commissioner, said that although he was confident police have responded “proportionately and appropriately” so far, it was clear that “there is a plethora of additional information circulating in the public domain which deserves appropriate examination.”

Mr White has asked Jo Farrell, the force’s chief constable, to look into the allegations surrounding Mr Cummings’ time in the area.

It has been reported that he took a second trip to the north east last month, having already returned to London. Robin Lees, a retired chemistry teacher, made a complaint to the police after reporting that he saw Mr Cummings and his family on 12 April in the town of Barnard Castle.

Mr White said: “I have today written to the Chief Constable, asking her to establish the facts concerning any potential breach of the law or regulations in this matter at any juncture.

“It will be for the chief constable to determine the operational response to this request and I am confident that with the resources at its disposal, the force can show proportionality and fairness in what has become a major issue of public interest and trust.”

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