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Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, defiantly rejected Opposition calls for his resignation yesterday, insisting the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes had occurred in the midst of the "greatest operational challenge in a generation".
Blair, who had been in the job only five months when the fatal shooting occurred, justified his decision to stay, highlighting the trial judge's comments that the failures that led to the tragedy "were not sustained or repeated". He said it would now be his "personal task" to ensure the lessons had been learned.
He told reporters outside the Old Bailey after the guilty verdict: "This case thus provides no evidence at all of systematic failure by the Metropolitan Police. And I therefore intend to continue to lead the Met in its increasingly successful efforts to reduce crime and deter and disrupt terrorist activities in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom."
The police chief received the immediate backing of both Downing Street and the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, who said that Blair had her full confidence.
But the shadow Home Secretary, David Davis, said the commissioner's position was now untenable and he should stand down to restore public confidence in the police.
"The trial has shed light on the serial failures that led to the tragic death of Mr de Menezes," Davis said. "They include failures of organisation, command and operations. The failures were systemic, falling within the clear responsibility of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police." In his statement, Blair defended the decision of the police to plead not guilty.
He again praised the bravery of the police on the day of the shooting, saying officers were doing their best to handle the threat posed by the failed suicide bombers the previous day.
Blair's tenure as Britain's top cop has been dogged by controversy.
He was heavily criticised after appearing to mislead the public by declaring on the day of the shooting that de Menezes was a suspect - despite later claims that a member of Blair's office had known he was innocent.
- Independent
