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Defiant Boris could look abroad for new Met chief
Justin Davenport and Pippa Crerar03.10.08
The way was open today for a foreign police officer to become the next Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
Officials were drawing up the criteria for the selection of a new Scotland Yard chief and were expected to include a clause which allows foreign police chiefs - and even civilians - to be appointed. It has emerged that Mayor Boris Johnson met Los Angeles police chief Bill Bratton at City Hall last Friday.
The Mayor forced out Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair yesterday, insisting that it was time for a new figure to lead the fight against crime. The Mayor's deputy, Kit Malthouse, said the decision was not about politics but "effective policing".
However, Mr Johnson suggested that no permanent successor was needed until the Tories took over at Downing Street. He was immediately challenged by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith who told him that he was trying to put himself above the law.
By statute, only the Home Secretary can appoint and dismiss a Met Police Commissioner. "There's a process in place that the Mayor chose not to respect," Ms Smith said.
Friends of Sir Ian, who offered to stay on until his replacement was found, said he was told by the Mayor: "We don't want a successor appointed. We will have an acting arrangement until a Conservative home secretary arrives."
Mr Johnson today denied over-stepping his authority by forcing out Sir Ian.
"This was not - and certainly never will be - some kind of party political plot," he said.
"I simply thought after long reflection and widespread consultation that it was a good opportunity for someone else to offer new leadership, stability, and increased operational effectiveness."
He added: "It was my view that I could not shirk the advice that had been given."
However, his claim to have consulted "a great number of people" with responsibility for policing in London before calling in the Met chief is likely to anger Ms Smith as the news came as a surprise.
Mr Johnson denied he had set a dangerous precedent of political interference in the Met. "There is no change to the constitutional position, there is no constitutional precedent that has been set," he said.
City Hall aides denied Sir Ian's replacement would be a political appointment by the Tories, saying he or she would need the support of both Mr Johnson and Ms Smith. One said: "I can't imagine anyone wanting to take the job unless they did."
Aides revealed that Mr Bratton was invited for a "brainstorming" session with Sir Ian. The Los Angeles police chief, who attended a fringe event at Tory conference in Birmingham this week, is a favourite with the party's grassroots who admire his tough approach to policing.
He oversaw a dramatic reduction in crime during his time as New York police chief and has successfully taken on LA's gang culture in his current job.
Sources in the Mayor's office admitted Mr Johnson had been "extremely impressed" by Mr Bratton and that he could consider him for a senior advisory role, or even that of Commissioner, in future.
A source close to the Mayor said: "His record speaks for itself. I could see the instinctive appeal of using in some capacity the experience of someone like that. We're ruling nothing in and nothing out."
The newclause in the eligibility criteria for candidates applying for the £241,000-ayear-post states that if there are " exceptional circumstances" the normal rule that candidates should be UK chief constables or the equivalent rank can be set aside.
The idea of appointing a foreign police chief has been ruled out by Ms Smith and would not win support among police officers. Ex-Met chief Lord Stevens has said the appointment of a foreign police chief could spark "genuine anger" among officers and one senior officer told the Standard : "Policing here is just too complex, we are still best people to do it."
Tory leader David Cameron has also raised questions over the Mayor's campaign to have the power to hire or fire the Met Commissioner.
Mr Johnson has claimed it is important for democratic accountability to Londoners for the Mayor - rather than the Home Secretary as at present - to have the final say.
But Mr Cameron warned the move could be a "big upheaval" that may not help the police deal with the terrorist threat nationally, a key part of the Met's job.
The row between the Mayor and the Home Secretary threatens to blow apart any consensus on the appointment of Sir Ian's successor, who will take over when he formally steps down on 1 December.
Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson was expected to take the reins until then, with Sir Ian taking a back seat. One colleague said: "He is pragmatic but he is also deeply disappointed."
Sir Ian's sudden resignation - revealed in the Evening Standard yesterday - was greeted with shock at Scotland Yard.
One senior officer said: "What sort of message does this send to anyone who wants this job now, basically unless they toe the party line they will face the sack."
Reader views (20)
Ah - j'ai un candidat - Inspecteur Clouseau
- John, Leighton Buzzard, Beds
Best person for the job! Go Boris!
- Hosni, Hackney London
This is nothing new about appointing a non-police officer to Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis. In fact, the first police officer to be appointed was Sir john nott-Bower in 1953. His predecessors were Civil Service, Royal Air Force, Army and even a couple of lawyers.
- Huw Thomas, Dubai, UAE
I wish him every success to control the crimes, so that we have peaceful life.Our children can walk freely day and night in streets and schools.
- M Amjad, London
Yipee! Good riddance after so many years of mis-management. London has seen a terrible increase in crime (knifes, burglaries and social crime) under this Nu Labor politician and we need a tough police officer now not a office bureaucrat like Ijan Blair. Finally some good news for London!!
- Georgie, Islington, London
Bill Bratton of all people knows just what it is like to be Sir Ian. After all, it was NY's Mayor that made him decide to leave his role as Commissioner there. The Mayor felt that Mr Bratton was getting too much credit for reducing crime. So what would happen if he came here and stole Boris' thunder? American policing is much different to here, I know, I lived there for the first 32 years of my life (inclding when Mr Bratton was in NY). He has reduced crime on his watch, but he is not what London needs.
- Kathleen, UK
Boris has chosen to ignore the procedures and was lucky that Blair chose to resign because Boris could not have forced him to go as he doesn't have the authority to do so.London has done well under the labour government and has had a lot of money given to it, times may become more difficult for londoners very soon if Boris gets up the nose of the people who live on the other side of the river.
- Mike Melbourne, Bedford
I've not lived in London for a while, so perhaps any comments on B Johnson are best left to those that do. However, as the Met do have a national security role I feel that I do have the right to comment on that aspect. Whilst Blair needed to go - the Home Sec of the day should have been consulted. Johnson needs to be forcefully reminded of that obligation when it comes to recruiting Blair's replacement (irrespective of the flavour of the party in power). Johnson's display of political immaturity in this only strengthens the argument for a unified national Police force (something that I don't favour by-the-way). Not a very responsible move on Johnson's part at all I'm afraid...
- C Elder, Warwickshire, UK
A foreigner in charge of the capital's police? Where are the men in white coats?
- Trevor, Westcliff
A bit rich of Labour to complain about politicisation of the role when it was Blair (Ian) who adopted overtly political positions in support of Blair (Tony)
- Johno, London
Good move Boris, show the "force" that democratic principles prevail over perceived right of might.
- Jon, London
So Tubby Boris has started throwing his weight around. Looks like power has gone to his head. Well I suppose there wasn't much else in there.
- Mick, London, England
Well done Boris, at last we have a politician with balls!!!! Blairs gone, move on! The decisions been made, Blairs gets a pay off and we the people of London get a new commissioner. No scandal, no nonsense, no news exclusives, just get on with it as we've got lives to live!!!
- Jc, London
I have never liked the Blair; he embodied everything that is wrong with the police these days. However for him to be forced to resign like this is a travesty, the ommissionership was already too political, thanks mainly to Blair, but now the next commissioner will be a toothless lackey, dancing to what ever tune the politician of the day calls.
- Gary, London
Whilst sometime shooting from thr hip is a good idea, however shooting from the lip is not and there should be given consideration time. Boris on the street market you were correct, straight from the hip, but, on the Scotland Yard issue you shot from the lip and was wrong. Remember the old addage Boris, engage brain before opening mouth.
- Billy Hirst, Tbilisi Georgia
And now the political squealing from NuLab. Ms Smith's comment that Blair's voluntary departure was politically enforced is laughable. Johnson has always made his position clear. It was just a matter of time.
And a peerage - for what? Services to NuLab? Politicisation of the Met? These people hold the electorate in sheer contempt.
- Chuck Unsworth, London
Labour are on very thin ice; there is more to come.The murder of Jean Menezes, Sir Ian's conversation with Tony Blair and the deciscion to delay the official investigation, the falsifying of evidence and so on should be sufficient for him to be charged with obstructing the course of justice. Labour are miffed because they see an end to building a totalitarian police state. They should go carefully, the public is strongly behind Boris on this one, he will win, and he will emerge all the stronger for the battle.
- Jeremiah, London
I urge Ms Smith to remember that Boris was only recently elected by over 1 million people and not a single person outside of the Labour party appears to be disappointed by the departure of Blair. If she wants to take on the Mayor, she should remember that she is also taking on the majority of Londoners.
- St, London
I didn't vote for Boris - but loads more people voted him in for Mayor than elected Jacqui Smith an MP - and who voted her to be Home Secretary? And let's not forget that Sir Ian chose to leave - nobody sacked him. Perhaps he chose to jump now rather than wait to be pushed by the outcome of the Jean Charles de Menezes inquest.
- Austen, London
As usual Brown Labour Loonies will reward failure. Roll on the revolution!
- Frederick, London, UK
