Sir Ian Blair’s successor hesitates

The man tipped to be the next head of the Metropolitan Police is understood to be thinking twice about applying for the job. Sir Paul Stephenson is currently acting head of the Met, and so was ultimately responsible for the controversial arrest of Tory MP Damian Green last week. Green was arrested after publishing leaked documents.

The deadline for applications is noon today, and Sir Paul is said to be wondering if the job is worth the flak. Outgoing Metropolitan Police chief Sir Ian Blair left office yesterday with a parting shot at London Mayor Boris Johnson. He accused the man who ousted him of making a "very political move" that could destabilise the Police Service.

In an interview he warned that his successor could be forced out in the same way in four years' time unless the politics was taken out of policing.
Sir Ian, who leaves the London force today with a £300,000 payoff, called for the legislation which defines how a commissioner is appointed to be re-examined and said his dismissal was "an imitation of New York".