'Anarchism' commander carpeted

The police chief who said he finds anarchism "appealing" was carpeted by bosses at Scotland Yard today only hours after he returned to the website where he made his original comments.

Commander Brian Paddick was given a dressing down over his "use of language" on the radical alternative website although his position as head of policing in Lambeth remains unaltered.

Mr Paddick, 43, was called in to see Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens at 9am on his first day back from a three-week holiday in Thailand and Australia. A police source said the meeting was friendly but he "had his wings clipped".

In a statement the Yard said senior officers backed his use of the internet as "a means of communicating with diverse communities".

It continued: "However while there is no question of any breach of discipline, concern was expressed about some of the language he used, its wider interpretation and the impact on his role as a senior manager in the Metropolitan Police."

Mr Paddick is Britain's most senior openly gay police officer. He had been taking part in a website discussion on issues such as anarchism, the legalisation of drugs and how to police Brixton.

Before he faced Sir John today, Mr Paddick, under the screen name Brian The Commander, returned to the urban75 website with the message: "Hi guys I'm back! Being a bit cautious to begin with. I hope you understand."

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