Top London Cop’s behaviour is simply criminal

The worst crime of all is that this shocking man is still in his job

Telegraph | Nov 11, 2007

By Simon Heffer

Can you imagine the shamelessness and moral depravity of someone who is paid a huge sum of money to do a job, singularly fails to do it, is rebuked by those to whom he is accountable for this failure, yet refuses absolutely to acknowledge any wrong on his part, and to dismiss any notion that he should resign from his post? Well, of course, you don’t have to imagine such a situation. You just need to observe the conduct this week of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair.

In the past 10 days, the Met has been found guilty of breaking health and safety laws by killing Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005 when he was mistaken for a terrorist. This may be an absurd conviction to result from such an appalling act: but it is a conviction none the less, and it reflects on the failings of the command structure at the head of which sits Sir Ian.

Then, this week, the London Assembly passed a vote of no confidence in him, and the Metropolitan Police Authority has signalled that it will hold one on November 22.

Finally, the Independent Police Complaints Commission published a report into the Stockwell shooting that accused Sir Ian of obstructing its inquiries. He would seem, as they used to say in The Sweeney, to be bang to rights.

However, as I write, this preposterous man is still in his job. His complete ignorance of his own inadequacy is symbolised by the fact that he seeks a £25,000 performance bonus, something his blameless deputy has declined. Frankly, the way Sir Ian is carrying on, he should be paying the Government, rather than the other way round.

Above all, it is the public and their welfare that are forgotten in this disgusting series of events. The police force – or service, as Sir Ian saponaceously refers to it – is crucial in a civilised society. It is the means of protecting the law-abiding majority against the malevolent minority. Sir Ian absurdly said he would go if he felt he had lost the confidence of his officers. He lost that long ago: he should see some of the emails they send me.

They regard him as not being a proper policeman (he has spent the past 20 years sitting mostly behind a desk or on committees) and being obsessed with ingratiating himself with his political masters. You don’t stop much crime doing that.

But the worst crime of all is that this shocking man is still in his job. It is one the Home Secretary should solve without further delay.

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