LA police chief 'was approached over Met job'

A US police chief was sounded out about taking over as the Metropolitan Police commissioner, it was reported today.

Bob Kiley, the Mayor's transport commissioner, is said to have made informal approaches to his friend Bill Bratton, the head of Los Angeles police.

Transport for London said Mr Kiley alerted Mr Bratton to the London vacancy during a two-minute "personal conversation".

Mr Kiley, one of Ken Livingstone's most senior aides, was Mr Bratton's boss when he ran the New York metro.

Mr Bratton, widely regarded for pioneering "zero tolerance" policing in LA, has indicated in the past he would like to run the Met, the most senior police post in Britain. But he told the LA Times he would be staying in California for at least another three years.

Mr Livingstone's office played down the suggestion that Mr Bratton could succeed outgoing Commissioner Sir John Stevens. A spokesman also made clear the Mayor had not sanctioned any approach by Mr Kiley to Mr Bratton.