He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1974 under a graduate scheme,and served 10 years in London. As deputy chief constable of Thames Valley Police,he handled the protests over the construction of the Newbury bypass,and then became chief constable of Surrey Police,before being appointed deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police,and then commissioner in January 2005. His term of office saw the mistaken shooting of an innocent man,Jean Charles de Menezes,which resulted in contradictory police reports,and his comments on race caused some controversy among ethnic-minority police officers.
Ian Blair was born in Chester to Jim and Sheila Blair in 1953. His father spent most of his career working for Lever Brothers,eventually rising to manage the dock at Port Sunlight in Merseyside. His mother was from Sheffield and her father had made a living as a steel merchant until he suffered major losses in the Great Depression in the 1930s. Both Blair and his brother,six years his senior,were sent to independent school at the expense of one of their father's brothers,who was a successful doctor. Blair's brother,Sandy,left school early to work for a solicitors' firm.[3] His cousin was the historian John Fauvel.
Blair was sent to Wrekin College in Wellington,Shropshire. Jim Blair had been determined that his son would become a doctor—as his father (Ian's grandfather) had been,but Ian rebelled,refusing to take O-Level biology,knowing it would disqualify him from a potential medical career. He initially had no aspiration to go to university,as neither of his parents nor his brother had had a university education. However,he was inspired by a teacher at Wrekin to apply to Christ Church,Oxford.[3] After a gap year,he went on to study English at the University of Oxford,graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1974.[4][5]
Early police career
Blair joined the Metropolitan Police in 1974,under the High Potential Development Scheme for Graduates. He joined as the rank of Constable,based in Soho,London,eventually over the next 10 years serving as a sergeant and inspector in both uniform and CID in central London.[6]
While serving as deputy commissioner,he gained a reputation for being a "thinking man's policeman". He called for more female,ethnic minority and gay recruits. In 2002 he publicly stated that "Society cannot duck the fact that most muggers are black",and in response the National Black Police Association stated that black recruits could be deterred by such comments.[13]
Several months into his tenure,Jean Charles de Menezes was shot and killed by armed police who mistakenly believed he was a suicide bomber. After the shooting Blair telephoned the Chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and wrote a letter to the Home Office stating that "the shooting that has just occurred at Stockwell is not to be referred to the IPCC and that they will be given no access to the scene at the present time".[14]
Blair stated that a warning had been issued prior to the shooting. The IPCC held an investigation into what later turned out to be a false statement,and into allegations of attempts to delay an inquiry. On 2 August 2007 the IPCC announced its findings that the allegations against Blair couldn't be substantiated,instead placing the blame for misleading the public on Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman,who had failed to report his suspicions that an innocent man had been killed,and had released contradictory statements to the press.[15] After Blair learned that the shooting of de Menezes had been a case of mistaken identity,he briefly considered resigning.[16]
During the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the wrongful shooting,one of his Deputy Assistant CommissionersBrian Paddick stated just six hours after the shooting that a member of Blair's private office team had believed the wrong man had been targeted.[17] This allegation was contradicted by New Scotland Yard,and Paddick said that this amounted to accusing him of lying.[17] On 28 March 2006,Paddick accepted a statement from the Metropolitan Police that it "did not intend to imply" a senior officer had misled the probe into the shooting and that "any misunderstanding is regretted".[18]
On 1 November 2007,a jury convicted the Metropolitan Police of violating health and safety laws,highlighting 19 "catastrophic errors" but said it was an "isolated breach under quite extraordinary circumstances".[20] Blair rejected a vote of no confidence by the London Assembly a week later.[21] Blair continued to receive the support of the Metropolitan Police Authority,the head of which said that he would not have accepted any resignation offered by Blair.[21]
Operation Finnean
In 2005-06 Blair was involved in Operation Finnean,a £280,000 investigation into supermodel Kate Moss's alleged possession and distribution of a Class A drug. It has been alleged that the operation was systematically sabotaged by officers eager to undermine Blair and Tarique Ghaffur's high-profile stance on celebrity drug taking,and thereby erode their authority.[22]
Bonus pay
In 2007 Blair was criticised by senior colleagues at New Scotland Yard after he sought a £25,000 performance bonus during criminal proceedings over the shooting of de Menezes,[23] while on a salary of £228,000 and with rank-and-file officers facing the prospect of pay cuts.[23][24]
Terrorism
In November 2005,a controversy about detention without charge proposals led to Blair becoming involved in allegations of the police being "politicised",when he and other senior police officers were known to have lobbied MPs to support Government proposals to hold terrorist suspects for 90 days.[25]
After the failure of the Forest Gate Raid,2006,several sources once again called on Blair to resign. Prime Minister Tony Blair (no relation) confirmed his support for the Commissioner.[26]
The Metropolitan Police Authority requested on 28 July 2008 that Blair face an inquiry over a series of IT contracts with the Metropolitan Police worth £3 million won by Impact Plus,a consultancy owned by Andy Miller,who is a long-time friend of Blair.[28] The commissioner denied any wrongdoing and said that he was "open and straightforward in informing both the Metropolitan Police Service and the MPA about [his] relationship [with Miller]". He said that he had set out in writing his connection with Miller and had no part in the evaluation process. It has however been reported in the press that on one occasion another company was turned down for a contract won by Impact Plus,despite its bid being a third of the winning offer.[28] Miller and other Israeli IT providers are currently contracted in law enforcement for the "Bluelight" IT and electronics services.
No bid PR contract
In October 2008 it was reported that Blair had used public money to pay an estimated £15,000 to Impact Plus,owned by his friend of over 30 years,Andy Miller.[29]
Race relations
In January 2006 he described the media as institutionally racist[30] for its allegedly unbalanced coverage of crimes against white people,such as in the murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce as compared to that given to crimes against those from ethnic minorities.[31] As an example,he had referred to the murder of two young girls in Soham in 2002. He said "almost nobody" understood why it became such a big story. However,he was forced to issue an apology to the parents of Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman.[32]
During a passing-out ceremony of the Metropolitan Police held in December 2006,an unnamed female Muslim police officer refused to shake hands with Blair,claiming religious grounds,and refused to have a picture taken with him,for fear of its being used for "propaganda purposes". According to Scotland Yard,Blair questioned the validity of her refusal.[33][34]
In June 2008,Commander Shabir Hussain alleged being repeatedly rejected for promotion owing to racial discrimination,explicitly suggesting that Blair was using his influence to favour a "golden circle" of white officers and to turn down applications made by black and Asian candidates,who were better qualified for the promotion.[35] In another case,the country's most senior Asian police officer Tarique Ghaffur was considering commencing an employment tribunal over being sidelined by Blair in Olympics security planning,and being asked to keep quiet about his concerns about the new 42 days detention laws for terror suspects.[36] In a subsequent press conference,Ghaffur claimed that in a face-to-face meeting with Blair,the latter threatened to remove him from his post if he went ahead with his legal action.[37]
Secretly taped telephone conversations
In March 2006,it was revealed that in late 2005 he had secretly taped several telephone conversations,including with the Attorney General,Lord Goldsmith. Blair received an unprecedented written warning from his bosses,[38] but the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority,while describing his actions as "totally unacceptable",said it was not a resigning matter.[39][40] The recording was not illegal and it was said to be simply to enable an accurate record to be taken for him in the absence of a note taker.[41]
Single police force
Blair has stated that he would prefer to see a single police force for the whole of London,an opinion shared by Ken Livingstone,with the functions of both the City of London Police and the British Transport Police absorbed by the Metropolitan Police.[42] Already,the duties and functions of one police force (the Royal Parks Constabulary) have been taken by the Met. However,both the City of London Police[43] and BTP[44] have expressed their strong objections to this proposal,while the Home Office has stated that reorganisation of policing in London is not on their agenda. The publication of reviews into the operation of the British Transport Police,[45] and the national review of fraud by the Attorney General,[46] combined with the ending of the police merger proposals for England and Wales,appear to rule out any possibility of police mergers in London for the foreseeable future.
Brian Haw
Blair was criticised when 78 police officers were involved in an operation to confiscate placards displayed by protester Brian Haw. After he initially told the Metropolitan Police Authority that the operation had cost £7,200,it later emerged that it cost £27,000.[47]
Haringey comments
In 2006,in comments to the Times newspaper,Blair claimed that the London Borough of Haringey was a safe enough place to leave doors unlocked. Metropolitan Police Authority member Damian Hockney described Blair's remarks as "truly extraordinary".[48]
Unsupported claims of involvement in the Balcombe Street siege
The Guardian published on 30 March 2007 a story detailing inconsistencies between an account Blair gave of his involvement in the Balcombe Street Siege on the night of 6 December 1975,and the recollections of others involved at the time.[49] In a 2006 interview,Blair had stated:"We turned the corner,and there is the car ... It was a very defining moment. I think I spent the next half an hour pretending to be a bush. They got out of the car and started firing at us. It is an interesting experience being fired at when you have absolutely nothing to fire back with ... I loved it. I loved the job."[49]
Steve Moysey,a U.S.-based British academic,who researched and published a detailed history of the IRA campaign in London,and the resulting Balcombe Street siege,[50] was puzzled by apparent inconsistencies and contacted John Purnell,who with his partner Phil McVeigh,were the first policemen to confront the Balcombe Street gang. Purnell said:"I've never for one second associated Ian Blair with Balcombe Street in any shape or form,and his account of seeing [the terrorists] get out of the car and being shot at as they got out of the car is totally impossible." Blair admitted he had not personally seen the IRA men getting out of their car and opening fire,and stated:"I didn't see it and I didn't say I saw it."[49]
He added he had briefly joined the car chase after encountering the IRA car in Park Street near the original shooting. "We turned into Park Street and there were two or three vehicles in front of us going extremely fast." He believed one was the "bandit car" and another may have been a taxi,but Blair and his sergeant were not able to keep up "because we were driving a Hillman Hunter which has a top speed of 25mph minus". The actual top speed of the least powerful Hillman Hunter in 1975 was 83mph and the top speed of a 70s-era taxi was 60mph. According to Purnell:"There was no chase. It was just going along at a normal speed. [The IRA men] actually said later they didn't know they were being followed."[49][51]
Resignation
In May 2008,it was reported in the press that Blair's contract as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service would not be renewed when it expired in 2010.[52]
On 2 October 2008,Blair announced he would resign as Metropolitan Police Commissioner,with effect from 1 December 2008. He blamed a lack of support from London mayor Boris Johnson,saying that "without the mayor's backing I do not think I can continue". Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Prime Minister Gordon Brown paid tribute to Blair's service. Sir Paul Stephenson took over on 28 November 2008.[53][54] Blair is entitled to a full police pension,estimated to be worth about £160,000 per year,based on his £240,000 commissioner's salary.[55]
Peerage and the House of Lords
In May 2010,Blair was appointed as a crossbenchlife peer,[56] and was created Baron Blair of Boughton,of Boughton in the County of Cheshire on 20 July 2010.[57] He is a member of the Joint Committee on the Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.[58]
Commissions and enquiries
In 2010,Blair served on the Commission on Assisted Dying run by Demos,subsequently speaking in favour of changing the law.[59] In the same year,along with Roma Hooper,Paul McDowell,Dame Anne Owers,Javed Khan,John Thornhill and Peter Oborne,he formed an investigative panel which led the year-long Community or Custody National Enquiry[60] investigating the effectiveness of community sentencing over short-term prison sentences for low-level offences.[61]
Blair would have held the ranks of Police Constable,Police Sergeant and Inspector between 1974 and 1985,but the dates of his appointments are unknown. A photograph in his autobiography,Policing Controversy,shows him as a uniformed sergeant in 1977.[6]
Brian Leonard Paddick,Baron Paddick,is a British life peer and retired police officer. He was the Liberal Democrat candidate for the London mayoral elections of 2008 and of 2012,and until his retirement in May 2007 was a deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police Service.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) was a non-departmental public body in England and Wales responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales.
Operation Kratos was a set of tactics developed by London's Metropolitan Police Service for dealing with suspected suicide bombers,most notably firing shots to the head without warning. The tactics were developed shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks,based in part on consultation with Israeli and Sri Lankan law enforcement agencies on how to deal with suicide bombers. Little was revealed about these tactics until after the mistaken shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes on 22 July 2005,in the wake of the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The term is no longer used by the Metropolitan Police,although similar tactics remain in force.
Dame Cressida Rose Dick is a British former police officer who served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2017 to 2022. She is both the first female and the first openly homosexual officer to lead the Metropolitan Police Service.
Surrey Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Surrey in South East England.
Peter Michael Imbert,Baron Imbert,was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service from 1987 to 1993,and prior to that appointment Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 1979 to 1985.
Sir Paul Robert Stephenson is a British retired police officer who was the Metropolitan Police Commissioner from 2009 to 2011.
The Forest Gate raid was a Metropolitan Police operation on 2 June 2006. It resulted in the arrest of two men at their east London homes in Forest Gate by police acting on what they described as "specific intelligence" that they might be terrorists in possession of a chemical bomb. One of the men was shot during the raid. No explosive devices were found during the raid,nor was there any evidence of terrorist activity. The men were released without charge. Mohammed Abdul Kahar was again cleared,after 44 indecent images of children had been found on a computer's hard drive,an external hard drive,and a mobile phone recovered during the raid. No charges were filed,as:"The prosecution was not satisfied that Mr Kahar had the necessary computer expertise to enable him ... to transfer the images to the Nokia phone."
Jamshid Ali Dizaei is a former Commander in London's Metropolitan Police Service,Iranian-born with dual nationality,and formerly one of Britain's more senior Muslim police officers. Dizaei came to prominence as a result of his outspoken views on racial discrimination in the London Metropolitan Police and various allegations of malpractice on his part. He had received advancement after his criticism of the force following his claims of racism. He was a frequent media commentator on a variety of issues,mainly concerned with ethnicity and religion. In April 2008,he was promoted to Commander,responsible for West London.
Sir William Ian Ridley Johnston CBE QPM DL was the Chief Constable of British Transport Police. He became Chief Constable on 1 May 2001 when he succeeded David Williams QPM,who had served as Chief Constable for three and a half years.
Tarique Ghaffur is a former Ugandan-born British police officer in London's Metropolitan Police Service. His last post was as Assistant Commissioner–Central Operations.
Bernard Hogan-Howe,Baron Hogan-Howe,is an English former police officer and was the head of London's Metropolitan Police as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2011 until 2017.
Sir Peter Martin Fahy is a retired senior British police officer. He was the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police (GMP),the United Kingdom's third largest police force. He retired from the police force on 23 October 2015 after serving for 34 years.
Jean Charles da Silva e de Menezes was a Brazilian man killed by officers of the London Metropolitan Police Service at Stockwell station on the London Underground,after he was wrongly deemed to be one of the fugitives involved in the previous day's failed bombing attempts. These events took place two weeks after the London bombings of 7 July 2005,in which 52 people were killed.
Sir Norman George Bettison,QPM is a British former police officer and the former Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. He resigned in October 2012 amidst controversy about his role in the Hillsborough disaster,in which he was involved in the implementation of a cover-up of police errors. He remained the subject of an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation,and was charged on the 28 June 2017 with four counts of misconduct in public office. The case was dropped on 21 August 2018. Bettison's own book Hillsborough Untold (2016) contains his version of events.
Ian Tomlinson was a newspaper vendor who collapsed and died in the City of London after being struck by a police officer during the 2009 G-20 summit protests. After an inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing,the officer,Simon Harwood,was prosecuted for manslaughter. He was found not guilty but was dismissed from the police service for gross misconduct. Following civil proceedings,the Metropolitan Police Service paid Tomlinson's family an undisclosed sum and acknowledged that Harwood's actions had caused Tomlinson's death.
The history of the Metropolitan Police in London is long and complex,with many different events taking place between its inception in 1829 and the present day.
Andrew Christopher Hayman CBE QPM is a retired British police officer and author of The Terrorist Hunters. Hayman held the rank of Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations at London's Metropolitan Police,the highest-ranking officer responsible for counter-terrorism in the United Kingdom. Hayman was directly responsible for the investigation into the 7 July 2005 London bombings. He has also spoken for the Association of Chief Police Officers,first on drugs policy,and later on counter-terrorism.
Sir Mark Peter Rowley is a British police officer who has been the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis since September 2022.
The Balcombe Street siege was an incident involving members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) and London's Metropolitan Police lasting from 6 to 12 December 1975. The siege ended with the surrender of the four IRA members and the release of their two hostages. The events were televised and watched by millions.
↑ Temkin, Jennifer (October 1985). "Book review: Investigating Rape: A New Approach for Police". The British Journal of Criminology. 5 (4). Oxford University Press: 394–397. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjc.a047559. JSTOR23637226.
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