Sir Paul Stephenson quits | Mail Online
Metropolitan Police chief Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned.
Sir Paul announced his resignation at a press conference this evening in the wake of revelations that he received a £12k spa break where News of the World hacking suspect Neil Wallis was a PR consultant.
During an extensive statement on the scandal Sir Paul said he had no idea of extent of the practice and his integrity was 'completely intact'.
Sir Paul said: 'I have 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 in relation to Mr Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week.'
Announcement: Sir Paul Stephenson makes his resignation speech this evening following allegations he took a free spa break
Sir Paul then used his statement to attempted to put the record straight over his relationship with Mr Wallis.
He said that the pair first met during 2006 and continued a professional relationship with meetings detailed in public records. He said he had no knowledge of any investigation into phone hacking involving the News of the World at that time.
Sir Paul said: '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.'
Sir Paul said he saw no need to inform senior ministers of Scotland Yard's contract with Mr Wallis, who worked two days a month for Scotland Yard during 2009 and last year, earning £24,000.
Leaving for the last time: Sir Paul stands outside Scotland Yard following tonight's resignation speech
Driven away: Sir Paul left Scotland Yard in a black Range Rover after refusing to answer questions from the media
Explaining the decision to recruit Mr Wallis for PR services, Sir Paul said: 'The contracting of Mr Wallis only became of relevance when his name became linked with the new investigation into phone hacking.
'I recognise that the interests of transparency might have made earlier disclosure of this information desirable.
'However my priority, despite the embarrassment it might cause, has been to maintain the integrity of Operation Weeting. To make it public would have immediately tainted him and potentially compromised any future Operation Weeting action.'
Referring to the 'reported displeasure' of the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, he added:
'The reasons for not having told them are two fold.
'Firstly, I repeat my earlier comments of having at the time no reason for considering the contractual relationship to be a matter of concern.'
He went on to say there was 'no impropriety' in relation to his use of Champneys luxury spa facilities.
Tonight, Home Secretary Theresa May told Sir Paul she was 'sorry' that he was resigning and thanked him for his work, a spokesman said.
And London Mayor Boris Johnson added: 'It is with great sadness and reluctance that I have tonight accepted the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.
Hacking suspect: Neil Wallis, pictured here leaving Hammersmith police station after being grilled by detectives on Thursday, worked as a PR at Champneys and was a £1,000-per-day Met Police consultant
'I would like to stress that I have absolutely no reason to doubt the complete integrity of Sir Paul and I believe him to be a fine, passionate and committed public servant who has done a huge amount of good for our city.
'Sir Paul believes, however, that the phone hacking saga now threatens to become a serious distraction during the run up to the Olympic Games.
'He has persuaded me that someone else should now be allowed to take his work forward so that the focus can return to policing and bringing down crime.
'I should like to pay personal tribute to his outstanding leadership at the Metropolitan Police.'
Keith Vaz, chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said Sir Paul had 'shown leadership' with his resignation.
'He's accepted responsibility. He's a person of integrity. When he was appointed, he was appointed because he was a safe pair of hands and I think that he probably felt that he was not providing that leadership at the moment because of the situation," Mr Vaz told Sky News.
'I don't think we should criticise people when they decide to take responsibility.'
Peter Smyth, chair of the Met Police Federation, told Sky News: "I am surprised. I think it is a sad day for Paul and a sad day for the Metropolitan Police.
'He is a very private man, I have never had any reason to question his integrity. He has come to a decision based on what he knows about himself.'
He added: 'I think News International have been quite clever, they have turned the focus away from themselves and more on to the Metropolitan Police, which I think was a deliberate tactic.
It is understood there will now be a 'winding down' period before a permanent successor is announced.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2015779/Sir-Paul-Stephenson-quits.html#ixzz1SObrzMxR
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