Menezes officer given a top job

Cressida Dick became a Met commander in July 2001

The senior police officer leading operations on the day Jean Charles de Menezes was shot has been promoted to a top role in the Metropolitan Police.

Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick will head Scotland Yard's specialist crime unit.

The £172,000-a-year post oversees murder inquiries, tackling organised crime and undercover policing.

It is the first permanent appointment of a woman at this level, equivalent to a chief constable in a regional force.

Ms Dick was the "gold commander" in charge of operations when Mr de Menezes was shot. It was her responsibility to oversee the various teams of surveillance and firearms officers on the ground and to sanction their actions.

She was cleared of blame by a jury at the end of the prosecution of the Metropolitan Police under health and safety laws in 2007.

Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said one of Ms Dick's first tasks will be to oversee a reorganisation of how rapes are investigated, following the convictions of two serial sex attackers - John Worboys and Kirk Reid - which revealed police failings.

'Professional resilience'

Sir Paul said: "Cressida Dick is a first-class police officer who brings with her over 25 years of policing experience both in London and other parts of the country.

"Cressida is known amongst colleagues for her leadership and professional resilience even in the most testing of circumstances.

"A key role for her in specialist crime will be leading on the move of rape investigation into a new single command.

"I know that Cressida will apply a high level of commitment and strategic oversight to all her specialist areas as part of this new appointment."