SIR IAN BLAIR and his assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur were seated at different tables and facing away from each other to prevent their bitter rivalry spoiling a prestigious police awards dinner.

The organisers of last night's event today admitted they kept the warring officers "as far apart as possible" to prevent an "awkward situation".

Sir Ian, the outgoing Metropolitan Police Commissioner, was seated at the head table while Mr Ghaffur, who is suing the Met for race discrimination, was placed at table six among the VIP guests at the Jane's Police Review gala awards dinner.

Further blushes were only spared when Met commander Ali Dizaei, who is also suing the Met but is currently suspended from his post, failed to show up at the dinner at the Royal Horticultural Halls. Organisers had found Commander Dizaei yet another VIP table putting his back to Sir Ian.

The need for separate tables for high-ranking officers highlights the extraordinary rifts inside the Met ahead of Sir Ian's planned departure on 1 December.

Chris Herbert, editor of Jane's Police Review, said: "With all that has happened, we decided to keep them away from each other on separate tables. We also pointed them in different directions so they were not in each other's eye line. It's a nice event for them all and you have to be aware some people don't get on."

One guest - a senior police officer - suggested the event, hosted by the BBC's Huw Edwards, had been an "icy affair" among top ranks. "It was unbelievable. Everyone noticed what was going on," the officer said.

"These awards are to honour the unsung heroes of British policing and the bosses are all sitting at different tables not looking at each other. They behave more like children than police officers sometimes. It's embarrassing really."

Another source said: "They are competitive and hate to be undermined, but his year the organisers really had to work hard to make sure that nothing kicked off. Luckily it went relatively smoothly, but there were a few glares."

There were other potential conflicts that were thankfully avoided on the night. Sir Paul Stephenson, the Met's deputy commissioner and a favourite to succeed Sir Ian, was also on a table out of the outgoing boss's gaze.

The two fell out when Sir Paul turned down a £25,000 bonus last year while the Met was on trial for the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes - effectively forcing Sir Ian to reject the bonus as well.

Mr Ghaffur is expected to receive a £300,000 settlement which will see him retire from the Met.

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