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| Britain's top policeman resigns | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has announced his resignation after three years in the job. | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has announced his resignation after three years in the job. |
| He said London mayor Boris Johnson, who took over as chairman of the police authority on Wednesday, had told him he wanted a "change in leadership". | He said London mayor Boris Johnson, who took over as chairman of the police authority on Wednesday, had told him he wanted a "change in leadership". |
| Sir Ian said that "without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue in the job". | Sir Ian said that "without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue in the job". |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said deputy commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson will take over as acting head of the Met. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said deputy commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson will take over as acting head of the Met. |
| Ms Smith said Sir Ian could be "proud" of his achievements and praised his national role in policing and tackling terrorism. | Ms Smith said Sir Ian could be "proud" of his achievements and praised his national role in policing and tackling terrorism. |
| "I pay tribute to Sir Ian for the massive reductions in crime that his leadership of the Met has overseen and his continuing efforts to tackle gun, gang and knife crime," she said. | "I pay tribute to Sir Ian for the massive reductions in crime that his leadership of the Met has overseen and his continuing efforts to tackle gun, gang and knife crime," she said. |
| "His part in leading neighbourhood policing across London has led to Londoners being safer and more confident." | "His part in leading neighbourhood policing across London has led to Londoners being safer and more confident." |
| Mr Johnson, who has repeatedly avoided publicly backing Sir Ian since being elected mayor in May, had called for the commissioner to be directly accountable to City Hall. | |
| No secrets | No secrets |
| Sir Ian, who took over as commissioner in February 2005, said he would be stepping down on 1 December. | Sir Ian, who took over as commissioner in February 2005, said he would be stepping down on 1 December. |
| His tenure has been dogged by controversy. | His tenure has been dogged by controversy. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYIt's a very difficult job, and I don't believe that he did badly, but he needs to goNic Brough, LondonSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYIt's a very difficult job, and I don't believe that he did badly, but he needs to goNic Brough, LondonSend us your comments |
| MPA auditors are in the process of examining Scotland Yard contracts given to consultancy firm Impact Plus, run by a friend. | MPA auditors are in the process of examining Scotland Yard contracts given to consultancy firm Impact Plus, run by a friend. |
| Sir Ian has said he had been "open and straightforward in informing both the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and the MPA about my relationship with someone who was subsequently awarded a contract with the MPS". | Sir Ian has said he had been "open and straightforward in informing both the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] and the MPA about my relationship with someone who was subsequently awarded a contract with the MPS". |
| Sir Ian has also faced criticism over the racism row involving the Met's most senior Asian officer Tarique Ghaffur. | Sir Ian has also faced criticism over the racism row involving the Met's most senior Asian officer Tarique Ghaffur. |
| There have been questions too about his handling of events surrounding the 2005 death of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead at Stockwell Underground station in south London after being mistaken for a suicide bomber. | There have been questions too about his handling of events surrounding the 2005 death of Jean Charles de Menezes, who was shot dead at Stockwell Underground station in south London after being mistaken for a suicide bomber. |
| The Met Police were later convicted of health and safety offences over the incident. | The Met Police were later convicted of health and safety offences over the incident. |
| Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said Sir Ian had taken the "right decision" in standing down. | Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said Sir Ian had taken the "right decision" in standing down. |
| "We have been calling for Sir Ian to step down for almost a year - since the serial and systematic failings at the Metropolitan Police [service] disclosed during the De Menezes trial - whilst cabinet ministers from the PM onwards continued to express total confidence in him. | "We have been calling for Sir Ian to step down for almost a year - since the serial and systematic failings at the Metropolitan Police [service] disclosed during the De Menezes trial - whilst cabinet ministers from the PM onwards continued to express total confidence in him. |
| "It is now clear that they have shown a serious lack of judgment about the leadership of the most important police force in Britain. | "It is now clear that they have shown a serious lack of judgment about the leadership of the most important police force in Britain. |
| "It is vital that a successor is appointed who can restore public confidence." | "It is vital that a successor is appointed who can restore public confidence." |
| Sir Edward Henry was the last commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to quit in 1918. His departure came after the hugely damaging police strike of that year, the last time officers were allowed to walk out. | Sir Edward Henry was the last commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to quit in 1918. His departure came after the hugely damaging police strike of that year, the last time officers were allowed to walk out. |