Plot to oust Met chief denied

Press Association
Jan. 31, 2006

A leading police chief has denied that more than 140 senior colleagues want Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to resign.

The Met's Deputy Commissioner, Paul Stephenson, refuted newspaper allegations that top officers are openly discussing how to oust Sir Ian.

The Daily Mirror reports that the country's most senior police chief held talks with Home Secretary Charles Clarke about his future on Monday - a claim denied by Scotland Yard.

It alleged that Met Superintendents, Chief Superintendents, Commanders and Deputy Assistant Commissioners are among those calling for his removal.

A senior police officer told the Mirror: "There is a serious issue over the confidence of the force in Sir Ian and his ability to lead it.

"Many of us think he has been too damaged by his own blunders to go on and that he should resign immediately. A view is building momentum that Sir Ian is now holed below the waterline."

But Mr Stephenson said: "I do not believe this story to be true.

"The Commissioner did not have any meetings with the Home Office, and he has my full backing and the overwhelming support of his senior colleagues."

Last week Sir Ian was at the centre of a storm of criticism after he said "almost nobody" could understand why Soham became "the biggest story in Britain".

He later apologised directly to the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman for his remarks at a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

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