Bye Bye Blair

It is the end of an era. The man who led London as the police commissioner during the ghastly 7/7 bombings yesterday left the police force. Put more politically incorrectly, he was forced out by London’s mayor Boris Johnson. His departure raises serious questions.

The BBC quoted Sir Ian Blair as saying that law must change to prevent another Metropolitan Police commissioner being “forced out” by London's mayor.

The commissioner of police quit the police in October. He accused the mayor of not backing him.

Speaking in his final interview as the commissioner of police for London Sir Ian Blair told the BBC that politicians were trying to hire and fire police chiefs.

The episode raises many serious questions about the relationship between the office of the mayor and the police chief.

New equation

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) oversees the force and approves its strategies and spending.

The powerful body, it was decided earlier this year, would be chaired by the mayor.

Boris Johnson met up with Blair and made it clear that he had to quit his post as Metropolitan police chief.

Legally speaking, the power to hire and fire the Met commissioner rests with the home secretary, the Guardian reported.

The MPA invoked "urgency powers" in the first week of October.

Politicisation of policing

On his last day in charge the top cop accused the mayor of politicising the police force.

Lord Stevens said of the whole affair that that the Metropolitan Police must never be politicised.

Lord Stevens, the former Metropolitan Police was speaking to the Telegraph newspaper.

He warned his successor will not only have to battle the threat of terrorism and spiralling teenage murders, but the increasing politicisation of policing. He was quoted in the Independent newspaper.

Now, it only remains to be seen if Sir Ian Blair’s prophecy comes true.