Mayor's aide advice on Met chief

31/07/2008 08:09:40

City Hall has been given legal advice to see if the mayor can suspend the Met Police Commissioner pending an inquiry into alleged financial impropriety.Sir Ian Blair faces an independent inquiry into the awarding of £3m of police contracts to a friend's company.In leaked e-mails, deputy mayor of London Kit Malthouse said he was trying to clarifying what powers the mayor had to hold the commissioner to account.Sir Ian said he was disappointed the e-mails were leaked, but not surprised.In one of the e-mails to the Metropolitan Police Authority, the force's watchdog, Mr Malthouse said it was "the mayor's decision to suspend or not". I and the mayor have made no secret of our view that governance arrangements in policing are confused and lack accountability Kit Malthouse Commenting on the e-mails, Mr Malthouse said: "I believe the mayor was elected to have an influence on policing in London."The e-mail indicated my concern that the mayor's views about the process involving the commissioner were not being taken into account.''The current legal situation was outlined to me and that process must be followed."However, I and the mayor have made no secret of our view that governance arrangements in policing are confused and lack accountability."A spokesman for the MPA said: "The leak of internal e-mails is wholly unacceptable, especially of confidential legal advice."We do however need to make clear that the purpose of the exchange was to clarify the legal powers vested in the [Greater London ] Authority to suspend senior officers and the mayor's role in such a decision, if any.High politics"At no point is it suggested that the mayor actively wished to suspend Sir Ian as part of the ongoing conduct process."Sir Ian said he was concerned about the politicisation of the post of commissioner.At a media briefing on Wednesday, he said: "Most senior police officers are concerned by the office of commissioner becoming a matter of high politics - which it has done for some time."But he added he got on extremely well with London Mayor Boris Johnson and there was no anger directed at him.The e-mails surfaced after the MPA announced an inquiry on Monday into the awarding of police contracts to Andrew Millar's company Impact Plus.Sir Ian, who was deputy commissioner at the time of the contracts, welcomed the inquiry and said he was "open and straightforward" in informing his colleagues of his relationship with Mr Millar.He denies any wrongdoing.