Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned.

[boxtops]

Newsflash on BBC just now, confirmed here - another one bites the dust... http://www.telegraph....tatement-in-full.html

[boxtops]

Didn't see philtaz' post before I posted this, sorry if I am duplicating the topic!

[jno]

it bears repeating, boxtops...

That's twice today I've had messages saying "Switch on the news!"

[anotheoldgit]

In his resignation letter he would not admit to any wrongdoings only to the fact that he resigned because he thought it only right to do so, to protect the reputation of the organisation that he leads.

Yes all very honourable, but is he as squeaky clean as he makes out, or will we never know taking into account all the support he still seems to get from the Home Secretary Theresa May and London Mayor Boris Johnson, to name just two?

What is strange however, why did he resign on a Sunday and at the same time that former News International chief Rebekah Brooks was being questioned by the police?

[jno]

probably for the reasons he said, aog, that the focus on him was impeding the real investigation. And no, I don't think he was as honourable as he makes out. He hired a former deputy editor of the NotW as adviser, at the same time as he was supposed to be investigating the NotW. If he'd done the latter well, the former wouldn't have mattered... but he didn't.

[Sqad]

,<<< but is he as squeaky clean as he makes out>>>

Is anybody "squeeky clean"....he was a well respected policeman who became No1 policeman in the Police Force and apparently had remarkable success in protecting the public and bringing the villains to court. The big question is, are all these casualties of Hackergate replaceable by people of equal talent?

Yes, it was foolish to recuperate at Champney's, but how many ABers would turn down "questionable perks?"

Are we all taking the high moral ground because the majority of us do not get access to these "perks?"

[jno]

not bothered abotu Champneys, Sqad. I am definitely bothered by the way he told the Guardian editor that his allegations against the NotW were exaggerated and unfounded - while not disclosing he'd hired a NotW boss as his adviser. Massive conflict of interest there; it happened about 2 years ago and didn't come out till the adviser was arrested last week.

To suggest a parallel: if you were reporting to the police that you'd been robbed, how would you feel if you found the robber actually worked in the police station or was the inspector's brother in law or something? Confident that justice would be done?

[anotheoldgit]

Sqad

/// Are we all taking the high moral ground because the majority of us do not get access to these "perks?" ///

It is not a matter of taking the moral high ground, or the fact that the majority do not get access to such perks.

He is a police officer, but not only that he is the top police officer, so therefore he should set an example to his subordinates that one should not accept such perks.

In an earlier post I was taken to task over the fact that even offering a bribe to a police officer was a criminal offence, well could not this freebie also be considered a bribe in some way?

[Sqad]

AOG....yes, your point is well taken........but remember, he is a human being first(with human failings) and a Police Commissioner second.

[sandyRoe]

Bungs in brown envelopes for the other ranks, long stays in posh spas for the brass hats. It all stinks.

[jno]

I semi-agree, aog. Bribes aren't only in money.

His defence against this claim is that the owner was a personal friend, and wasn't asking anything in return, which seems plausible. On the other hand, Champneys seems very closely tied to News International - they did lots of promotions together and NI writers seemed to plug it a lot.

http://www.guardian.c...phenson-phone-hacking

That should have made him think it was unwise to accept the kind offer.

[jno]

I hope so, Eddie. This is the one thing I have always loathed about Murdoch newspapers. (Plus the fact that he is allowed to own so many of them.) It's always been on the cards that it was true, but somehow neither the police nor the media seemed inclined to investigate it!