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Met chief quizzed over leadership Watchdog united behind Met chief
(about 5 hours later)
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair is facing questions from the police watchdog over his leadership of the largest police force in the UK. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair has the full backing of the force's watchdog, its chairman says.
At a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Sir Ian will be asked about claims of a rift between him and his deputy Paul Stephenson. Len Duvall said it would not allow Sir Ian to be hounded out of office after he was asked to explain claims of a rift between him and his deputy.
Mr Stephenson issued a statement earlier this week, dismissing rumours of a row between them as "nonsense". Earlier, deputy Paul Stephenson dismissed the rumours as "nonsense".
He said they "continue to enjoy a very strong working relationship". In a private meeting with Metropolitan Police Authority members, both men gave statements outlining their continued good working relationship.
A formal vote of "no confidence" in Sir Ian cannot take place because the required period of seven days' notice has not been given. 'Cleared the air'
Sir Ian will be keen to highlight during the meeting how figures released last week revealed almost every type of crime in the capital was falling. It was claimed Sir Ian accused Mr Stephenson of disloyalty in a row over substantial bonus payments for senior officers.
Row claims And it was suggested Sir Ian felt his deputy forced him into turning down a payment by refusing one himself.
It has been claimed that Sir Ian accused Mr Stephenson of disloyalty in a row over substantial bonus payments for senior officers. But in a statement issued earlier this week, Mr Stephenson said: "Sir Ian has never accused me of being disloyal and we have certainly not been on a 'virtual war-footing for months' as is claimed.
And it has been suggested that Sir Ian felt his deputy forced him into turning down a payment by refusing one himself.
But Mr Stephenson said: "Sir Ian has never accused me of being disloyal and we have certainly not been on a 'virtual war-footing for months' as is claimed.
"To suggest otherwise is nonsense and we continue to enjoy a very strong working relationship.""To suggest otherwise is nonsense and we continue to enjoy a very strong working relationship."
The monthly full authority meeting will also discuss a proposed trial of extended use of Taser stun guns among non-firearms officers. Mr Duvall said the meeting - from which the media and public were banned - had "cleared the air".
The Home Office trial was halted in September, after the Authority requested more information about how the 50,000-volt weapons will be used. He said it was important the force was not diverted by headlines, but warned there were those in the Met who may have issues with its leadership.
Also being discussed are the cost of policing football matches, road casualties and how to improve relations with young people. "It certainly does cause me to be suspicious that there are elements within the service who are not in favour of the direction of travel or may or may not have an issue with Sir Ian Blair and others," he said.