Sir Paul Stephenson to be London Police Commissioner

by Dave Keating | January 28, 2009 at 01:35 am

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The UK's Home Office has appointed 55-year-old Sir Paul Stephenson as the new Commissioner of Scotland Yard. Stephenson will replace the controversial Sir Ian Blair, who resigned last year amid concerns about his leadership style and his handling of the fatal shooting of an innocent man in a terrorism raid.

Stephenspon's appointment as the 26th Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police comes despite the damaging controversy of his role sanctioning the arrest of Damian Green, the shadow home affairs secretary, in December, which almost saw him withdraw from the race to become Scotland Yard chief.

As deputy to Sir Ian, Sir Paul took over as acting commissioner the day after Mr Green was arrested and had been briefed on the operation before it went ahead.

As a result of the fall out, his chances were considered slim by some commentators and at one stage he slipped to 9/1 outsider with the bookmakers.