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Met chief: I'm ready to act on expenses
Justin Davenport18.05.09
The head of the Met said today he is prepared to launch an inquiry into MPs' expenses.
Sir Paul Stephenson added: “We will not back down where there is an obvious and clear need to investigate and people can be confident about that.”
In an exclusive interview with the Evening Standard, Sir Paul said he had held “very helpful” talks with the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer.
A panel formed by Sir Paul and the DPP was due to meet today.
His comments come after speculation that Scotland Yard could be reluctant to become embroiled in another complex and time-consuming political inquiry.
Other such investigations include the cash-for-honours and lords-for-hire scandals and neither has resulted in prosecutions.
Police and Crown Prosecution Service lawyers have to decide first if any laws have been broken, if it is in the public interest to mount a prosecution and if there is more than a 50 per cent chance of achieving a conviction.
Any initial investigation is expected to centre on two Labour MPs who claimed money for mortgages that they had already paid off.
Former environment minister Elliot Morley and David Chaytor have been suspended by the party.
Police are also considering whether to start an inquiry into at least five MPs — including Cabinet ministers Alistair Darling and Geoff Hoon — and a member of the House of Lords.
Police are understood to have received hundreds of complaints from the public.
Employment minister Tony McNulty, who claimed £60,000 for a house in which his parents live, and Baroness Uddin, who claimed £100,000 expenses on an empty flat, are also the subject of complaints.
Sir Paul said he would prefer his experienced detectives to be investigating organised crime and making London's streets safer rather than getting involved in political inquiries.
He insisted: “I do not want to get drawn into party political battles. But if there are matters that are brought to my attention that warrant investigation then rest assured we will investigate. We will not back away from our responsibilities.”
He went on: “There might be categories, I'm quite sure, or it looks like there might be people that need to be dealt with by parliamentary authorities.”
He said any police investigation is “about proper use of public monies and still ensuring that we've still got sufficient detectives to investigate some of the hideous offences that still take place in London”.
Sir Paul also called for a radical new approach to how police are called in to investigate political issues. He said there was a need for some sort of “independent gateway process” which could take the decisions about whether or not police should launch high profile political cases “to avoid the Met being used in any party political game”.
Any inquiry would be undertaken by detectives from the Yard's Specialist Crime Directorate led by Acting Assistant Commissioner Janet Williams, who was formerly the first woman commander of Special Branch.
Lord Falconer, the former Lord Chancellor, said police investigations could last up to two years — ensuring that it would overshadow the next general election.
“I think what is now going to happen is that the police will investigate. That investigation will take time. If there are prosecutions, the trials will take time.
"This is an issue that is going to be with us not just when the Daily Telegraph stop running their stories or the publication of invoices takes place in July, it is going to be with us for 18 months or two years.”
Reader views (23)
Sir,
This investigation can't come soon enough. How can we accept a Baroness living in social housing (subsidised by the taxpayer) when she has been earning a significant salary and claiming over £100K for a house that she does not live in? Whilst at the same time using that income to build what I imagine will be her retirement mansion in her home country of Bangladesh! I have no problem with her investing at home or building a retirement house but I do have a problem with the taxpayer footing the bill.
Investigate ASAP and if proven guiltyshe should repay all the money forthwith.
- David B, Winchester
This is not a political enquiry it is fraud pure and simple.Get on with it or get out.Soon there will be a party offering to prosecute all these people on behalf of the voting public-they will get all the votes and all the current bunch of people sitting on their hands will be out.
- Amoreno, Luxembourg
I see people are knocking the Police and MP's/ let not forget the CSP (criminal protection service) are normally the ones protecting the scum that breed in the slums and inner city hate centres of this once fine country
- Navyman, Plymouth
Let's hope that he is going to concentrate on all the fiddling Toried too, despite the Telegraph only highlighting a few of them.
- Keith Price, Luton, England
There's a world of difference between expenses and expensive. The wrongful arrest of MP Damian Green by the Met cost the tax-payer £5million, that's far to much. I suggest Sir Paul Stephenson looks into that first.
- Steve.W, B'ham UK
Sir Paul said any police investigation must balance the cost to the taxpayer and competing demands of other high-profile crime threats. ive just found this statement in the daily telegraph.further to my last item on the subject.no i cant write any more. political crime is measured by cost now.sack the idiot!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Mikeeee, peterborough uk
"Sir Paul said he "would prefer his experienced detectives to be investigating organised crime and making London's streets safer rather than getting involved in political inquiries".
In a situation that has angered Brits around the world, if Sir Paul does not get cracking he can expect more trouble on the streets than he can handle.
- Kenharvey, Ramsgate, South Africa.
"Sir Paul said he "would prefer his experienced detectives to be investigating organised crime and making London's streets safer rather than getting involved in political inquiries".
In a situation that has angered Brits around the world, if Sir Paul does not get cracking he can expect more trouble on the streets than he can handle.
- Kenharvey, Ramsgate, South Africa.
Ha, ha ,ha, none of them will be charged,and in a couple of weeks it will be business as usual
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
He would rather not get involved in party politics!!! It is not party politics, it is corruption, fraud and theft of public money and should be treated as such by the police. Just get on with your job mate and serve the public who pay your salary
- Trevn, Abu Dhabi
Whoever carries out these investigations has to be squeeky clean, otherwise all we will read about is that another layer of crap has popped up to the surface.
Purse and patience have been wiped out.
- Ex London, Germany
It is becomming harder by the day to trust any goverment official,be he an MP or Police commisioner.Trust has gone,dont even see the point of a goverment anymore.
- David, london
"considering whether to start an inquiry"
Actions speak louder than words, everyone knows serious fraud has taken place against the people of this country. Stop considering and actually do something. People have been locked up for a lot less than this.
- Gary, Brentwood
If the word of the law is for all citizens, will those charged with benefit fraud be able to say, it was a accounting error?... a mistake?... and simply be able to pay back what money they were not entltled to without any punishment?
Thought not!
- Joon, Streatham, South London
Too Sir Paul, Why not just get on with your job and start the investigation. Correct me if I am wrong but when it comes to Joe public the normal procedure is arrest first, DNA taken, questions later ? YES it is in the public interest and YES you will get a conviction. Now go do your job for which WE pay you and stop all this BS. How many more complaints do you need to receive before you start the investigation. Why dont you send your thugs in and give them a good beating? or don't you consider stealing money a crime?
- Chris, Rochester
The Commissioner surely realises that what the MP's have done in MOST cases is organised systemic crime and bar the odd expense, say £5000max in total over 4 years it is fraudulent greed. Some MP's did not do it - the MP's for Luton being the best example of did and did not.
- Geoff Coles, London and Cape Town
Why has he taken so long? They were quick to send in their STORMTROOPERS to frighten Damian Green's young daughters and wife and plod around parliament to arrest an MP who had done a huge public service in leaking information. When it comes to real criminals that have stolen our money they have taken over 10 days to make this statement. What a disgrace the MET are.
- Richard K, Nottingham
Stop dithering, plod.
Actions speak louder than words.
Come on ACTIONman!
- Dave, Cumbria
the met are not doing to well themselfs over the pass to warant confidence on the outcome
- Basil, bussiere poitevine 87320 france
I welcome Sir Paul's willingness to investigate the allegations of fraud/theft by our politicians. May I respectfully suggest his team begin with Jacqui Smith's claim that her "main" home was a spare room in her sister's house thus allowing her to steal £116,000 of tax payers' money for her "second home" in Reditch. Unless and until her claims are fully investigated and she is made repay every penny she fraudulently/dishonestly claimed then public anger will continue to grow.
- R.F., Yorks, UK
Does the headline mean he is willing to act to get more expenses for himself even if that means he is still failing miserably to uphold the law in the capital !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow
Sir Paul said he would prefer his experienced detectives to be investigating organised crime and making London's streets safer rather than getting involved in political inquiries.my god!!!!!!!!!!!!!the corruption with our polititions is organised crime for god sake. if he cant see that what chance does the law abidding uk citizen have. this bloke is a moron pretending to be a policeman.
- Mikeeee, peterborough uk
The way MPs are going, we're going to need a whole separate police force just to look into all their mis-doings! Shame on the lot of them!
- Marianne, SW France/London
