Paddick enters race to be mayor

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Brian Paddick, one of London's most controversial former police chiefs, has entered the race to challenge Ken Livingstone in a bid to become Mayor.

Mr Paddick, 49, announced on Sunday he is seeking the Liberal Democrat nomination in the 2008 election.

He says he wants to put more police officers on the streets - and fewer Police Community Support Officers.

The Liberal Democrats' chosen candidates will be announced in November.

"Londoners are frustrated because they (Police Community Support Officers) simply don't have the powers," he told BBC London.

"They don't have the training to be able to deal with whatever incident they come across.

"What we need is police officers who can deal with the incident straight away."

Mr Paddick, who was the highest ranking openly gay officer in the Metropolitan Police, came under fire for his softly-softly approach to cannabis when he was a commander in Lambeth.