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Next Met boss 'should be boring' Next Met boss 'should be boring'
(1 day later)
A man who would be involved in the search for the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said the top job should go to someone "pretty boring". A man who will be involved in the search for the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said the top job should go to someone "pretty boring".
Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor of policing, said the leading officer needed to be mindful of the "often grey line between politics and policing".Kit Malthouse, London's deputy mayor of policing, said the leading officer needed to be mindful of the "often grey line between politics and policing".
His comments were criticised by a retired senior officer who said police "do no want leadership that is boring". Commissioner Sir Ian Blair resigned over lack of support from the mayor.
Commissioner Sir Ian Blair had resigned over lack of support from the mayor. The job advert said the government wants someone with an "outstanding record" in tackling terrorism.
To put it crudely it is not a job for someone with 'double L plates' - standing for 'learning London' Peter Clarke, ex-Assistant Commissioner Last month Sir Ian announced that he would step down in December, saying London Mayor Boris Johnson had clearly indicated that "he wished there to be a change of leadership".
Last month Sir Ian announced that he will step down in December, saying Mayor Boris Johnson had clearly indicated that "he wished there to be a change of leadership". LIKELY CANDIDATES Met Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul StephensonNorthern Ireland's Chief Constable Sir Hugh OrdeMerseyside's police chief, Bernard Hogan-HoweKent's Chief Constable Mike Fuller Peter Neyroud, head of the National Policing Improvement Agency
Following the resignation Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had accused Mr Johnson of forcing the officer out for political reasons, a claim the mayor rejected.Following the resignation Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had accused Mr Johnson of forcing the officer out for political reasons, a claim the mayor rejected.
Speaking at a Policy Exchange debate Mr Malthouse said: "The last six months has been a real rollercoaster ride and the first thing that is good would be to get somebody pretty boring.Speaking at a Policy Exchange debate Mr Malthouse said: "The last six months has been a real rollercoaster ride and the first thing that is good would be to get somebody pretty boring.
"One of the key things for me certainly is it has to be somebody who understands the often grey line between politics and policing.""One of the key things for me certainly is it has to be somebody who understands the often grey line between politics and policing."
Sir Ian said he resigned over lack of support from the mayor Former Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, who headed Counter Terrorism Command, attacked the politician's comments.
Mr Malthouse added that the force needed to "focus" on fighting crime and called for "rigorous financial control". "The men and women that do a difficult job out there on the streets do not want leadership that is boring, they want leadership that is dynamic and focused," he said.
Former Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, who headed Counter Terrorism Command, attacked the the politician's comments.
He said: "The men and women that do a difficult job out there on the streets do no want leadership that is boring, they want leadership that is dynamic and focused."
"To put it crudely it is not a job for someone with 'double L plates' - standing for 'learning London'.""To put it crudely it is not a job for someone with 'double L plates' - standing for 'learning London'."
Former Home Secretary Charles Clarke, MP for Norwich South, also accused the new administration at City Hall of playing "personality politics". On Thursday, a recruitment advert was placed in the Police Review magazine by Ms Smith.
"There could be no more clear way of sucking the Commissioner into politics than by sacking him." It emphasises the commissioner's national counter-terrorism role in ensuring that people across the UK "can feel safe, confident that they are protected from crime and that their security is a priority".
It said the Queen will appoint the commissioner following a recommendation by Ms Smith, who "will have regard" to any recommendations made to her by the Metropolitan Police Authority and Mr Johnson.
One of the possible candidates for the role Peter Neyroud, head of the National Policing Improvement Agency, told the BBC: "I'm one of many who'd like to do it."