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Leveson Inquiry: Ex-Met chief defends health spa break | Leveson Inquiry: Ex-Met chief defends health spa break |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An ex-Metropolitan Police chief has defended accepting a free stay at a health spa saying he was desperate to recover from a serious operation. | An ex-Metropolitan Police chief has defended accepting a free stay at a health spa saying he was desperate to recover from a serious operation. |
Sir Paul Stephenson quit after criticism over a free stay at Champneys while it was promoted by former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis. | |
But he said he did not realise Mr Wallis' role until later. | |
He told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards he felt under "significant pressure" to return to work. | |
Sir Paul resigned as commissioner last July after facing criticism for hiring Mr Wallis as a PR consultant. | |
Mr Wallis had also been working as a public relations consultant for Champneys when Sir Paul accepted free accommodation worth thousands of pounds from the owner, Steven Purdue, a close friend of his daughter's father-in-law. | Mr Wallis had also been working as a public relations consultant for Champneys when Sir Paul accepted free accommodation worth thousands of pounds from the owner, Steven Purdue, a close friend of his daughter's father-in-law. |
'Sense of duty' | |
Sir Paul, who was absent from work from January to April 2011 after undergoing surgery remove a pre-cancerous tumour from his femur, said he had been reluctant to accept the offer but felt it would help his rehabilitation. | |
"I felt under significant personal pressure to return to work as soon as possible," he said. | |
"And my very clear view was if I didn't get back within that time, then I wouldn't go back at all... I do not think the leader of the Met can be absent for longer than that." | |
He said it was not until July 16 2011, the day before he resigned, that he learned that Champneys was promoted by a PR company for which Mr Wallis was working. | He said it was not until July 16 2011, the day before he resigned, that he learned that Champneys was promoted by a PR company for which Mr Wallis was working. |
Britain's former top policeman also told the inquiry he might not have resigned had it not been for his ill-health. | |
He said he stood down out of a "sense of duty and honour" because he feared he might be less able to respond to the pressures on him. | He said he stood down out of a "sense of duty and honour" because he feared he might be less able to respond to the pressures on him. |
Sir Paul said nobody he consulted agreed with his decision including Home Secretary Theresa May and London Mayor Boris Johnson. | Sir Paul said nobody he consulted agreed with his decision including Home Secretary Theresa May and London Mayor Boris Johnson. |
He added: "Had I not had the health issue, without wishing to overplay it, I might have come to a different conclusion." | He added: "Had I not had the health issue, without wishing to overplay it, I might have come to a different conclusion." |
Story leaks | |
Earlier, the inquiry heard Sir Paul believed contact between some senior colleagues and the written media was "closer than he would have liked". | |
He declined to name individuals, but said there were some who gossiped and leaked stories. | He declined to name individuals, but said there were some who gossiped and leaked stories. |
"I'm referring to a very small number of the management board, who on occasion either gossiped or leaked about stories from within the Met that were deeply unhelpful and added to a continuing dialogue to disharmony within the Met. That was hugely distracting." | "I'm referring to a very small number of the management board, who on occasion either gossiped or leaked about stories from within the Met that were deeply unhelpful and added to a continuing dialogue to disharmony within the Met. That was hugely distracting." |
The inquiry also heard about a long list of lunches, dinners and drinks Sir Paul had had with newspaper journalists and editors, including all but the Daily Express and the Star. | The inquiry also heard about a long list of lunches, dinners and drinks Sir Paul had had with newspaper journalists and editors, including all but the Daily Express and the Star. |
He said he did not favour particular papers, adding: "I'd say for every journalist I've ever met, they'd be delighted if I were indiscreet; my job was to ensure I wasn't." | He said he did not favour particular papers, adding: "I'd say for every journalist I've ever met, they'd be delighted if I were indiscreet; my job was to ensure I wasn't." |
Asked about the police investigation into phone hacking, he said the Met developed a fixed and defensive mindset around hacking in 2009. | Asked about the police investigation into phone hacking, he said the Met developed a fixed and defensive mindset around hacking in 2009. |
An original investigation, which began in 2006, had led to the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire being jailed. | An original investigation, which began in 2006, had led to the News of the World's royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire being jailed. |
However, the Met was heavily criticised for limiting the scope of the investigation despite evidence from Mulcaire's notebooks suggesting there could be thousands of hacking victims. | However, the Met was heavily criticised for limiting the scope of the investigation despite evidence from Mulcaire's notebooks suggesting there could be thousands of hacking victims. |
Sir Paul said: "What we didn't do is go back and challenge the reasons for those decisions in 2006. | Sir Paul said: "What we didn't do is go back and challenge the reasons for those decisions in 2006. |
"Had that taken place we might have been in a better place," he told the inquiry. | "Had that taken place we might have been in a better place," he told the inquiry. |
Meanwhile, the author of a recent report into relations between the Metropolitan Police and the media said there was feeling that some senior officers were "filling their boots" with hospitality. | Meanwhile, the author of a recent report into relations between the Metropolitan Police and the media said there was feeling that some senior officers were "filling their boots" with hospitality. |
Elizabeth Filkin, a former parliamentary standards commissioner, advised officers to avoid "flirting" and accepting alcohol from journalists. | Elizabeth Filkin, a former parliamentary standards commissioner, advised officers to avoid "flirting" and accepting alcohol from journalists. |
She told the inquiry it was "not a proper thing" for public servants to be seen to be receiving "a lot of hospitality from particular individuals or businesses". | She told the inquiry it was "not a proper thing" for public servants to be seen to be receiving "a lot of hospitality from particular individuals or businesses". |
Roger Baker from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary - responsible for the inspection of police forces - will also give evidence on Monday. | Roger Baker from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary - responsible for the inspection of police forces - will also give evidence on Monday. |