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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 resigned last July after being criticised for accepting a free stay at the Champneys luxury spa. 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.
He had undergone surgery to remove a pre-cancerous tumour from his femur. But he said he did not realise Mr Wallis' role until later.
He told the Leveson Inquiry he felt under "significant pressure" to return to work and believed the treatment would help speed up that process. He told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards he felt under "significant pressure" to return to work.
'Sense of duty' Sir Paul resigned as commissioner last July after facing criticism for hiring Mr Wallis as a PR consultant.
Sir Paul resigned as commissioner after facing criticism for hiring ex-News of the World executive editor Neil 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.
Sir Paul, who was off work from January to April 2011 after undergoing two operations, said he had been reluctant to accept the offer, but felt it would help his rehabilitation. '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 told the inquiry into press standards he might not have resigned had it not been for his ill-health. 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."
The inquiry heard Sir Paul believed contact between some senior colleagues and the written media was "closer than he would have liked". 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."
'Better place'
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.