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30/07/2008

London Seeks Legal Advice On Met Chief's Future



London's own civic administration has been seeking advice on whether or not it can suspend the city's top cop.

The BBC has reported that the Deputy Mayor of London, Kit Malthouse is "trying to clarify" what powers the Mayor had to hold the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to account, pending an inquiry into allegations of financial impropriety.

The city's top policeman, Sir Ian Blair is facing an independent inquiry into the awarding of £3m worth of police contracts to a friend's company - which has already resulted in Sir Ian firmly denying any wrongdoing.

In email correspondence to the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), Mr Malthouse wrote "it was for the Mayor to decide whether to remove Blair".

"There is too much decision-making by committee on stuff like this and it gives individual members far too much sense of power," the email said.

Sir Ian Blair said he was "disappointed" the emails were leaked, but not surprised.

A spokesperson for the MPA said "the leak of internal emails is wholly unacceptable, especially of confidential legal advice".

The spokesperson also insisted that "at no point" is it suggested that the Mayor "actively wished to suspend Sir Ian as part of the ongoing conduct process".

On Monday, it was decided that an independent investigator should be appointed by the Home Secretary with Sir Ian facing questions over the contract awarded to a company owned by his friend Andrew Millar, in December 2002.

The Commissioner has welcomed the inquiry and said he was "open and straightforward" in informing his colleagues of his relationship with his friend.

Millar was the owner of Impact Plus, a business and technology management consultancy company at the time of the alleged financial impropriety.

The Metropolitan police said that Impact Plus was awarded contracts worth around £3 million between 2001 and 2008.

(DS)
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