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Troubleshooter tipped for the top
Evening Standard09.04.09
John Yates is Scotland Yard's top troubleshooter who has been earmarked to take over as head of counter-terrorism for several weeks.
He was picked out as a possible replacement in the eventuality that Bob Quick became a political casualty over the Damian Green affair. His services are now required at least a few weeks early.
Mr Yates, 50, is currently assistant commissioner at the Yard in charge of the Specialist Crime Directorate, which holds responsibility for murder and organised crime.
He has led a succession of high-profile inquiries, notably the abortive 19-month “cash-for-peerages'' investigation.
Others include the successful bringing of perjury charges against Lord Archer, the failed prosecution of Princess Diana's butler Paul Burrell and the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? fraud trial.
Educated at Marlborough College and King's College London, he joined the Met in 1981 and spent time both in uniform and as a detective, later leading investigations into more than 20 murders.
Between 1999 and 2000 he worked as staff officer to Met Commissioner Paul Condon during the Macpherson Inquiry into the killing of black teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Mr Yates, who is married with children, is tipped for the very top and has recently been mentioned as a candidate for the chief constable's job in Northern Ireland.
