Yesterday I quietly wondered why Sir Paul Stephenson told the mayor all about the raid on Damian Green but didn't tell Jacqui Smith. At The Times Andy Hayman, a former head of specialist operations at the Met, was wondering more loudly what Boris was doing making known his opinion about the raid:
Boris Johnson was informed of the Green arrest in his position as chairman of the police authority but chose to react in the role of prominent Tory politician. This intervention, so soon after the ousting of Sir Ian Blair, is nothing less than political interference in operational policing.
He adds:
The next commissioner will think twice before pre-warning the mayor of any future sensitive operation.
It's hard to argue with that. The lesson for Boris appears to be that even if he eventually secures more formal influence over London's policing he'll effectively lose it pretty quickly if senior officers fear that keeping him in the loop about sensitive operations is going to result in a critical political commentary for public consumption.
It all adds interest to tomorrow morning's Assembly Plenary at which the mayor and Sir Paul will sit side by side and, I hope, be asked a few awkward questions. These seem unlikely to include anything about who's applied to succeed Ian Blair, partly because there won't be a reply and partly because so many prominent names have already been leaked.
Meanwhile, Ian Johnston, of the British Transport police has been asked by Sir Paul to review the Met's handling of the Green affair. Will this include considering the wisdom of Sir Paul telling the mayor about the raid and telling the Standard all about it? Too much to hope for I expect, but at this rate I wouldn't rule anything out.
