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Police chief quits over blunder Police chief quits over blunder
(20 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 inadvertently revealed secret papers to photographers when arriving for a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday.Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick inadvertently revealed secret papers to photographers when arriving for a Downing Street briefing on Wednesday.
Mr Quick said he "deeply regretted" the disruption caused to colleagues and was grateful they had reacted so quickly.Mr Quick said he "deeply regretted" the disruption caused to colleagues and was grateful they had reacted so quickly.
Twelve men were detained in raids in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire.Twelve men were detained in raids in Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire.
In a statement, Mr Quick said: "I have today offered my resignation in the knowledge that my action could have compromised a major counter-terrorism operation.In a statement, Mr Quick said: "I have today offered my resignation in the knowledge that my action could have compromised a major counter-terrorism operation.
"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."
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme In pictures: Terror raids FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme In pictures: Terror raids
The senior officer had 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 officer had 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.
'Distinguished career''Distinguished career'
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".
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.
There had been no witch hunt or effort to hound him out, he said.There had been no witch hunt or effort to hound him out, 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. "He has accepted that he made a serious error and that has led to his resignation this morning.""I hold Bob in the highest regard, as a friend and colleague, and that opinion has not changed. "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."It is unacceptable for Britain's most senior anti-terrorist officer to have had such an extraordinary lapse in judgement," he said.
"To put the security of his police officers and the operation at risk has rendered his position untenable.""To put the security of his police officers and the operation at risk has rendered his position untenable."
Some hours after the Downing Street incident on Wednesday, hundreds of officers from the north-west counter-terrorism unit carried out a series of raids.Some hours after the Downing Street incident on Wednesday, hundreds of officers from the north-west counter-terrorism unit carried out a series of raids.
Security expert Peter Taylor told the BBC there were concerns a terror cell had been formed which was ready to attack, possibly using an improvised explosive device.Security expert Peter Taylor told the BBC there were concerns a terror cell had been formed which was ready to attack, possibly using an improvised explosive device.
Searches are continuing at addresses in north-west England after hundreds of officers swooped on 10 properties and arrested 12 men.Searches are continuing at addresses in north-west England after hundreds of officers swooped on 10 properties and arrested 12 men.
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.
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