New Met chief: I don't want to be a celebrity

THE new head of the Met today insisted he had no intention of becoming a celebrity police officer.

Sir Paul Stephenson, 55, marked his first day in the job by signalling a total break with his predecessor, saying: "Ian Blair did it his way. I am now going to do it my way."

Responding to claims that City Hall wanted a boring officer to run the London force, he replied: "I don't want to be boring, I don't want to be exciting and I don't want to be a celebrity.

"I don't want to be a police leader who people will follow out of a mere sense of curiosity. It is my aim to be a top police leader in charge of one of the most important police services in the world."

He added: "My agenda for the coming years is straightforward. It is about solving crime, securing our streets, convincing all our communities that we are on their side and delivering the policing they want and being intolerant of violence in any form."

Sir Paul was flanked by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and London Mayor Boris Johnson as he said he was "immensely proud" to be given the job of Britain's most senior police officer.

He said: "Our job is to be visible on the streets, never walking by when help is needed and having pride in our uniform, our badge and the world famous Scotland Yard brand. In short, we must deliver. It is going to be challenging but I'm hugely excited by it."

Sir Paul has been the acting Commissioner since Sir Ian was forced out by the Mayor in October. He has forged a close working relationship with the Mayor and his deputy for policing Kit Malthouse and at first was the favourite for the post. However, his chances appeared to be damaged over the arrest of Damian Green, the Conservative shadow home affairs secretary, whose Commons offices were raided in a leak inquiry.

The arrest had been ordered by the Yard's head of terrorism, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, but Sir Paul had been informed of the decision and approved it. However, later, he made it clear privately that he had doubts over the decision and he appears to have convinced the Mayor and the Home Secretary that he should not carry any blame.

Sir Paul was the agreed choice of the Mayor and the Home Secretary who interviewed two candidates jointly on Monday. He narrowly beat Sir Hugh Orde, the chief constable of Northern Ireland.

Mr Johnson said: "This was a matter of almost glutinous cross-party consensus. There has been a large amount of agreement across the board that Sir Paul is the best person."

Ms Smith said he was "the outstanding" candidate, adding: "He has won the confidence and support of everybody during this interview process."

Sir Paul takes charge immediately of a £3.5billion organisation employing more than 56,000 people, including 32,000 police officers. While the role has national responsibility for counter-terrorism and royal and diplomatic protection, he also faces the challenges of youth violence and the capital's organised crime gangs.

While Sir Paul will be seen as a "safe pair of hands" who is unlikely to become mired in politics, critics say the decision is a missed opportunity to bring in a new broom at the Yard. Privately, rank-and-file officers and many detectives have made it clear they favoured the appointment of Sir Hugh, a charismatic leader seen as someone who could have lifted morale.

However, Sir Paul has an outstanding career record and the crucial backing of the Mayor and City Hall. One City Hall source said: "We're very happy. Boris instinctively wanted Sir Paul. That doesn't mean he wasn't open to anyone else but Sir Paul was the man to beat in his eyes."

Ken Livingstone welcomed the appointment. "A lot of us had worries that Boris might try and get someone in who would be out of touch with what London's policing needs," he told Radio4's Today programme. However Brian Paddick, an ex-assistant commissioner and Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate, said the necessary reform of the police service would "take a backseat" under Sir Paul. "It may have been better to have a new broom," he told Today.

"He is more of a Right-wing Commissioner than Sir Ian Blair - some people would say it would be difficult for any Commissioner to be more Left-wing than Ian Blair. There will be a lot of rank and file officers who will say, 'Well, anything is better than Sir Ian Blair'. I don't necessarily agree with that but I think he is more likely to work with the predominant macho male culture than Sir Ian."