20/09/2013 00:00
TW
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by RAY FLEMING
BORIS Johnson's pre-emptive bid to become “more influential” with the Metropolitan Police was given a warning yesterday. A couple of weeks ago the London Mayor's deputy for policing matters, Ken Malthouse, claimed that he and Mr Johnson had their “hands on the tiller” of the Met. What appeared to be a move towards greater politicization of the police caused worries through many forces in Britain. However, in a speech to the Police Superintendent's Association the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, has dismissed Mr Malthouse's statement in a most disarming way: ”Concerning hands on the tiller,“ he said, “I am tempted to further the nautical term. Anybody who knows anything about sailing knows that tillers only go on very small boats. If you have a big boat or a supertanker you have a bridge and a captain. I am very clear who is the captain and I know where the bridge is.”

Behind this spat there is an important point at stake - what Sir Paul called “the inviolate principle of police operational independence”. He said it had underpinned his career and would continue to underline his role as Met Commissioner. And in case any doubt remained he emphasized that “Just as the politician has no role in operational policing so the police have no role in politics” - a remark that can be taken as a direct criticism of Sir Paul's predecessor, Sir Ian Blair.