Met Police Chief Quits Amid Hacking Claims

Sky News - 1 hour 54 minutes ago

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned amid claims relating to the phone hacking scandal.

Leaving his post, Sir Paul said:

"I've taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met's links with News International at a senior level and in particular, with relation to Mr Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested as part of Operation Weeting last week."

Sir Paul had been criticised for hiring Mr Wallis, a former deputy editor of the News Of The World, in a public relations role. He said:

"In 2009 the Met entered into a contractual arrangement with Neil Wallis, terminating in 2010. I played no role in the letting or management of that contract."

He also emphasised he no reason to suspect Mr Wallis had any knowledge of phone hacking:

"I have heard suggestions that we must have suspected the alleged involvement of Mr Wallis in phone hacking. Let me say unequivocally that I did not and had no reason to have done so. I do not occupy a position in the world of journalism; I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging; nor of its apparent reach into senior levels."

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson told Sky News he had accepted his resignation with "great sadness" and said there was "no question about his personal integrity."

Sir Paul said it had been an "enormous privilege" to lead the Met.

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