Chief defends Met over MP's arrest

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Acting Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said detectives in any inquiry, no matter how sensitive, must follow the evidence "without fear or favour".

Speaking at City Hall in London, he said: "Clearly this was going to be a sensitive investigation and it is right we should be held to account at the appropriate time."

He added: "At issue in this investigation, and the work of the service as a whole, is our ability to maintain operational independence. The police must be able to act without fear or favour in any investigation, whomsoever may be involved, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may have committed criminal offences."

Responding to claims that the police had been influenced by senior Cabinet figures, Sir Paul said: "I would strongly refute that I or any senior officer under my command have or have allowed any improper influence of our operations or acted for political purposes. That is not what we do."

In his first public appearance since taking over the force, Sir Paul said he wanted to set the record straight over the investigation into Mr Green.

He said the controversial inquiry has "generated a great deal of publicity and important debate" but he suggested some was ill-informed.

He said: "There is a large amount of comment and speculation already in the public domain and I think it is right and proper to present some facts surrounding this investigation which lie at the heart of how the Metropolitan Police operates."

Sir Paul outlined the investigation conducted since the arrest of a junior civil servant on November 19 by officers from Counter Terrorism Command.

He said officers from this branch of the force were involved because they include former Special Branch officers whose responsibilities include official leaks.