Comment: Sir Ian’s demise

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Sir Ian failed to stamp his authority on the Met after taking control of the force in February 2005: the tendency to backbiting among the Met's upper echelons has now reached toxic levels. But his real problems began with the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005. Unanswered questions over Sir Ian's handling of the affair have eaten away at his credibility. His position is likely to be made more uncomfortable by the start later this month of the inquest into Mr de Menezes's death.

Almost as bad is the case of Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, who is taking Sir Ian and others to a tribunal over alleged racism. The Mayor is deeply unhappy with Sir Ian's performance and ministers are restive. The overall impression is of a leader whose authority lies in tatters.

That matters for London. To enjoy the confidence of his force and of Londoners — thus to fight crime effectively — the Met's chief must project authority and decisiveness. Instead, Sir Ian and most of the force's top brass are now reported to be almost unable to focus on anything except the disintegration of his position. This predicament would have been unimaginable under his predecessor, Sir John Stevens.

If the de Menezes inquest proves critical of Sir Ian, his early departure seems inevitable.