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Police chief quits over blunder Police chief quits over blunder
(10 minutes later)
Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer has resigned after making a security blunder which caused an anti-terror operation to be brought forward.Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer has resigned after making a security blunder which caused an anti-terror operation to be brought forward.
Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was photographed revealing the contents of a secret document when he arrived for a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday.Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick was photographed revealing the contents of a secret document when he arrived for a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday.
Mr Quick said his action could have "compromised" a major police operation.Mr Quick said his action could have "compromised" a major police operation.
Sources say the raids, in which 12 men were arrested, aimed to thwart a terror plot with possible al-Qaeda links.Sources say the raids, in which 12 men were arrested, aimed to thwart a terror plot with possible al-Qaeda links.
'Lives at risk''Lives at risk'
BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said sources close to the investigation had revealed the counter-terror operation had been launched in response to a possible terrorist plot that had reached its final stages of planning.BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said sources close to the investigation had revealed the counter-terror operation had been launched in response to a possible terrorist plot that had reached its final stages of planning.
Although no specific target was mentioned in intelligence, police moved quickly because of concerns it was going to happen "very soon" and that the planned attack was thought to be "very ,very big", he said.Although no specific target was mentioned in intelligence, police moved quickly because of concerns it was going to happen "very soon" and that the planned attack was thought to be "very ,very big", he said.
Security expert Peter Taylor told the BBC the attack was possibly to be made using an improvised explosive device.Security expert Peter Taylor told the BBC the attack was possibly to be made using an improvised explosive device.
The operation, and its subsequent raids in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, were undertaken earlier than planned after Mr Quick's memo blunder on Wednesday.The operation, and its subsequent raids in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire, were undertaken earlier than planned after Mr Quick's memo blunder on Wednesday.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme In pictures: Terror raids FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme In pictures: Terror raids
It had gone ahead on Wednesday afternoon rather than 0200 BST on Thursday, Mr Taylor said.It had gone ahead on Wednesday afternoon rather than 0200 BST on Thursday, Mr Taylor said.
The BBC's Daniel Sandford said the change of timings had "put public lives at risk" because it was carried out when people were awake and in public areas.The BBC's Daniel Sandford said the change of timings had "put public lives at risk" because it was carried out when people were awake and in public areas.
Police are questioning the 12 arrested men and "deep searches" of addresses are continuing, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner added.Police are questioning the 12 arrested men and "deep searches" of addresses are continuing, BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner added.
Ten of those arrested are Pakistan-born nationals on student visas and one is a UK-born British national.Ten of those arrested are Pakistan-born nationals on student visas and one is a UK-born British national.
After announcing he was to quit his post, Mr Quick said in a statement: "I have today offered my resignation in the knowledge that my action could have compromised a major counter-terrorism operation.After announcing he was to quit his post, Mr Quick said in a statement: "I have today offered my resignation in the knowledge that my action could have compromised a major counter-terrorism operation.
Daniel SandfordDaniel Sandford
BBC home affairs correspondentBBC home affairs correspondent
What happened yesterday was something that put public lives at risk. Partly because an operation had to be brought forward quickly and that, potentially, if it turns out to be a genuine plot then the trial may not go as they would have planned.What happened yesterday was something that put public lives at risk. Partly because an operation had to be brought forward quickly and that, potentially, if it turns out to be a genuine plot then the trial may not go as they would have planned.
But more importantly, the way the arrests had to be carried out put students' lives at risk; the normal way of arresting people is dawn raids in their homes, completely contained with houses surrounded by officers.But more importantly, the way the arrests had to be carried out put students' lives at risk; the normal way of arresting people is dawn raids in their homes, completely contained with houses surrounded by officers.
But the pictures showed students being held up in a university library while people are being arrested outside a glass window. You can't think of a more risky situation in which someone could be arrested.But the pictures showed students being held up in a university library while people are being arrested outside a glass window. You can't think of a more risky situation in which someone could be arrested.
If the police had had to open fire, where might the bullets have gone? If the person that they were arresting had been carrying some sort of weapon what kind of threat might that have posed?If the police had had to open fire, where might the bullets have gone? If the person that they were arresting had been carrying some sort of weapon what kind of threat might that have posed?
The fact that his actions, in having a paper so broadly exposed in front of the cameras, led them having to make arrests in that kind of dangerous situation just shows why it is that he's had to go this morning.The fact that his actions, in having a paper so broadly exposed in front of the cameras, led them having to make arrests in that kind of dangerous situation just shows why it is that he's had to go this morning.
"I deeply regret the disruption caused to colleagues undertaking the operation and remain grateful for the way in which they adapted quickly and professionally to a revised timescale.""I deeply regret the disruption caused to colleagues undertaking the operation and remain grateful for the way in which they adapted quickly and professionally to a revised timescale."
The senior Metropolitan Police officer has faced intense criticism from opposition politicians after revealing the confidential document to photographers after arriving for the Number 10 briefing in his anti-terrorism role and for the Association of Chief Police Officers.The senior Metropolitan Police officer has faced intense criticism from opposition politicians after revealing the confidential document to photographers after arriving for the Number 10 briefing in his anti-terrorism role and for the Association of Chief Police Officers.
The memo, marked "secret", carried an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terror operation.The memo, marked "secret", carried an outline briefing on an ongoing counter-terror operation.
It contained the names of several senior officers, locations and details about the nature of the overseas threat.It contained the names of several senior officers, locations and details about the nature of the overseas threat.
Mayor of London Boris Johnson said it was "with great sadness" that he had accepted Mr Quick's resignation.Mayor of London Boris Johnson said it was "with great sadness" that he had accepted Mr Quick's resignation.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the senior officer had a "very, very distinguished" career and that the memo incident had been "extremely unfortunate".He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the senior officer had a "very, very distinguished" career and that the memo incident had been "extremely unfortunate".
"I think it's greatly to his credit that he recognised the seriousness of the lapse that took place yesterday," he said."I think it's greatly to his credit that he recognised the seriousness of the lapse that took place yesterday," he said.
The mayor confirmed Assistant Commissioner John Yates would replace Mr Quick as head of counter-terrorism.The mayor confirmed Assistant Commissioner John Yates would replace Mr Quick as head of counter-terrorism.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson paid tribute to Mr Quick who he said had "served with dedication and professionalism throughout his career".Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson paid tribute to Mr Quick who he said had "served with dedication and professionalism throughout his career".
"I hold Bob in the highest regard, as a friend and colleague, and that opinion has not changed. "I hold Bob in the highest regard, as a friend and colleague, and that opinion has not changed," he said.
"He has accepted that he made a serious error and that has led to his resignation this morning."
'Right thing''Right thing'
In a statement, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she had been informed of Mr Quick's resignation by Sir Paul.In a statement, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she had been informed of Mr Quick's resignation by Sir Paul.
"Although the operation was successful, he felt that his position was untenable. I want to offer my sincere appreciation of all the outstanding work he has done in this role," she said."Although the operation was successful, he felt that his position was untenable. I want to offer my sincere appreciation of all the outstanding work he has done in this role," she said.
Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said resigning was "the right thing to do".Shadow home secretary Chris Grayling said resigning was "the right thing to do".
"It is unacceptable for Britain's most senior anti-terrorist officer to have had such an extraordinary lapse in judgement," he said. "The bit I don't understand is, why on earth a document like this is not locked in a briefcase as a matter of routine? I'd have just thought it would be blindingly obvious."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne agreed that such a "misjudgement" meant he had to step down. Conservative security spokesman Dame Pauline Neville-Jones added: "One must assume that potentially this could have been very serious... I trust and hope that action was fast enough to prevent any damage being done."
Mr Quick has remained a controversial figure since ordering the arrest of senior Tory MP Damian Green over alleged security leaks last year. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne agreed that such a "misjudgement" meant Mr Quick had to step down.
The senior officer has remained a controversial figure since ordering the arrest of senior Tory MP Damian Green over alleged security leaks last year.
In December, he apologised after accusing the Conservatives of involvement in newspaper stories about his wife's hire car business.In December, he apologised after accusing the Conservatives of involvement in newspaper stories about his wife's hire car business.
Did he take the right decision? How much of a lapse in judgement was this? You can send us your comments using the form below.Did he take the right decision? How much of a lapse in judgement was this? You can send us your comments using the form below.
You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.You can send us your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here.
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