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Straight-talker Sir Paul Stephenson has shown his mettle in handling politics
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent28 Jan 2009
SIR Paul Stephenson has already experienced first-hand the hidden pitfalls of being Britain's most senior police officer.
Only four days after he took over as acting commissioner the furore of the Damian Green arrest broke over his force.
While the operation was run by a colleague, Sir Paul admitted that he had authorised the arrest and the raid on the MP's office.
For a time it appeared that the tough-talking Lancastrian could succumb to the storm but the affair also gave him the chance to show his mettle and ability to survive the worst political wrangles.
Only weeks later he has emerged apparently unscathed to be appointed to the £253,000 post of Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
Sir Paul has succeeded because he is the nuts-and-bolts operational policing man that both the Home Office and City Hall want in post.
He was deputy to Sir Ian Blair for four years and is seen as having the safe pair of hands that can restore the Met's shattered reputation. He has built a close working relationship with Kit Malthouse, the Mayor's deputy for policing, who has praised his "laser-like focus", especially on reducing teenage crime.
The deputy Mayor has also said that perhaps it was time for a "boring candidate" to run the Met - insisting only much later that he meant it as a joke.
Supporters say Sir Paul is proud of achieving efficiencies in the force, saying he has redirected £300million to front-line policing. The rank and file, who were initially suspicious of the northern copper, have also warmed to his direct and honest style. Born in Bacup, Lancashire, young Paul, whose father was a butcher, was sent to the local grammar school where he became head boy and a champion swimmer.
His first choice of career was the shoe industry after he was encouraged by his future father-in-law. But when an elder brother joined the local police force, he decided it was the career he wanted to follow.
The 21-year-old joined Lancashire Police as a Pc but in 1982, by then a sergeant, he was singled out as a possible future senior officer after excelling in his exams and sent to Bramshill, the fast-track training college.
He was offered the opportunity to complete a police-sponsored degree but declined, preferring to spend the time on policing. The list of names on his course at Bramshill reads like a roll of honour. At least five officers went on to become chief constables, among them Hugh Orde.
After rising through the ranks he worked on Merseyside tackling crime gangs and also did a stint with the former Royal Ulster Constabulary.
He returned to Lancashire as deputy chief constable in 1999 and then took on the chief's job in 2002. Two years later the force was graded the best performing in the country. A year later Sir Paul was appointed to be deputy at the Met.
He arrived just before the Jean Charles de Menezes shooting but managed mostly to keep clear of the controversies that dogged his boss. While he appeared to back Sir Ian in public at least, a row over bonuses showed there were strains in the relationship.
It emerged that Sir Ian wanted to claim a £25,000 bonus, despite criticism surrounding the Stockwell tragedy. Sir Paul confronted his boss and, refusing his own bonus, told Sir Ian in forthright terms that he should do so too.
The father-of-three still keeps a home in Lancashire, a restored barn deep in the countryside, and a love of walking.
Reader views (1)
"shown his mettle"....? Sounded like PC Plod to me -without any gravitas what so ever. This does not bode well.
- Raymond, poole, 29/01/2009 15:47
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