Don't mention the disasters as Met chief Ian Blair hails a 'successful' year

The Scotland Yard chief's card fails to mention the bungled shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes and other controversies that have blighted the past 12 months.

But Sir Ian, in a message posted to all former police workers in London, says: "Once again this year has seen many successes for the Met."

The commissioner faced calls to resign this year after an inquiry into the 2005 shooting of Mr de Menezes, who was mistaken for a terrorist suspect when he was shot by police at Stockwell Tube station.

He was also criticised by the police watchdog for trying to block initial investigations into the shooting.

Sir Ian was also allegedly "bounced" by his deputy, Paul Stephenson, into turning down a £25,000 bonus and was reported to police authority officials by one of his

senior officers for allegedly appearing drunk at public events. He was also criticised for ignoring warnings that tighter controls were needed on staff expenses.

In his message, Sir Ian says: "As I write, crime continues to fall across the capital with total crimes at a ten-year low."

However, he does strike a note of caution, saying: "Fear and concern about crime fall far more slowly than official statistics. The pattern of murders by and of young people is of deep concern.

"The terrorist threat remains very grave, with the bombs in Haymarket and at Glasgow Airport a reminder of the difficulties we all face."

But he adds: "Nevertheless, the Met remains in very good heart.

"I am positive 2008 will be another successful year, another year of which all of us associated with the Met Police will be proud of the men and women who serve Londoners so magnificently."

Last year, Sir Ian faced ridicule for sending a Christmas card which ignored 2006's many setbacks.

There was no space to mention his apology to the families of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman because he had said he could not understand "why the Soham murders became the biggest story in Britain".

It also ignored how he was forced to grovel to Lord Goldsmith in March last year after he admitted taping the Attorney General's telephone conversations.

Soon after that, the Met's 24,000 constables called for Sir Ian's resignation.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "This year's message concedes that the challenges facing the Metropolitan Police remain enormous and is deliberately upbeat about the commissioner's pride in the men and women who serve Londoners so admirably and wishing every happiness and success to former staff and their families in the year ahead."