Boris Johnson 'forces resignation' of Met Chief » Communities » 24dash.com

Sir Ian Blair announced his resignation as Metropolitan Police Commissioner today, saying he could not continue without the support of London mayor Boris Johnson.

Britain's most senior police officer said the mayor had told him yesterday he wanted a "change in leadership" at the top of the Met.

Sir Ian said: "Without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue in the job."

Mr Johnson took over as chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority yesterday.

Sir Ian defended his record at the top of the Met and said it was the duty of the Commissioner to lead the force "through good times and bad".

He said he would leave the job on December 1 after Home Secretary Jacqui Smith had "reluctantly but graciously" accepted his resignation.

"I am resigning not because of any failures of my service and not because the pressures of the office and the many stories that surround it are too much," he said.

"I am resigning in the best interests of the people of London and of the Metropolitan Police Service.

He said he had wanted to stay on until his contract ran out in February 2010.

"However, at a meeting yesterday the new mayor made clear, in a very pleasant and determined way, that he wished there to be a change of leadership at the Met."

Ms Smith said she had accepted Sir Ian's resignation "with regret" and paid tribute to his work fighting crime in London and tackling terrorism across the country.

"Sir Ian can be proud of his contribution nationally and locally," she said.

"He has transformed the police's capacity to prevent and deal with terrorism throughout Britain, including his leadership during terrorist outrages on London streets."

Deputy commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson will take over as acting commissioner when Sir Ian steps down, she added.

Mr Johnson has pointedly failed to back Sir Ian since he took over at City Hall, and was due to chair his first meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) on Monday.

New allegations that a friend of Sir Ian was paid around £15,000 to make over his image were published in the Daily Mail today.

A team of officers led by HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Ronnie Flanagan is investigating payments of millions of pounds to Impact Plus, a company run by Andy Miller, a skiing friend of Sir Ian.

The allegations came against a background of high-level turmoil at the Met.

In recent weeks, two senior ethnic minority officers, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur and Commander Ali Dizaei, have been suspended.

Mr Ghaffur accused the force and Sir Ian of racial discrimination, prompting the force to tell him to "shut up" and later put him on gardening leave.

Mr Dizaei's suspension by the MPA prompted the Met's Black Police Association to sever links with senior managers at the force.

Sir Ian faced calls to go after the death of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes at the hands of anti-terror police only months into his tenure and again when the force was found guilty of breaches of health and safety law.

The inquest into the Brazilian's death opened last week and was expected to put further pressure on Sir Ian to go.

The day after the shooting in Stockwell Tube station, Sir Ian said the force was "playing out of its socks".

In a statement, Mr Johnson paid tribute to Sir Ian's record but said it was time for "new leadership" at the top of the force.

"He can be very proud of his record in helping to keep millions of Londoners safe from harm.

"However, there comes a time in any organisation when it becomes clear that it would benefit from new leadership and new clarity of purpose.

"I believe that time is now.

"Following a meeting between myself, Sir Ian and (deputy mayor) Kit Malthouse yesterday he has agreed to give someone else the chance to offer new leadership for policing in London and I am sure he has done the right thing."

"He leaves with our gratitude and our best wishes."