More Rupert-Gate
The BBC reports that Yates quits Met amid hacking row
Met Police Assistant Commissioner John Yates has resigned as the phone-hacking scandal fall-out continues.
He checked the credentials of Neil Wallis before the Met employed the ex-News of the World executive, arrested last week over hacking allegations.
Mr Yates indicated his intention to resign to the chairman of the Met Police Authority, which was accepted.
Mr Yates’s decison to quit comes after Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson resigned on Sunday.
The resignation of Sir Paul, the most senior policeman in Britain, came after he faced criticism for the recruitment of Mr Wallis as a PR consultant.
Mr Wallis, a former NoW deputy editor, was arrested and released on bail on Thursday on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.
Mr Yates’s resignation came after he was informed he would be suspended pending an inquiry into his relationship with Mr Wallis.
There are rumors that London mayor Boris Johnson is in talks with several spinsters from small villages to take over the Met, although there are some promising traffic wardens closer to home. 😉
Update: The Guardian has a interesting piece: Sir Paul Stephenson turns on David Cameron. This will raise stakes on the Prime Minister.
6 comments
And there is now something for the tinfoil hat brigade: ex NOTW journalist Sean Hoare, who made new allegations against Coulson et al last week has been found dead at his home
Not suggesting at all that there is anything suspicious, the guy had drink and drug problems and was under a lot of stress I;m sure, but I daresay it will give the conspiracy nuts something to work on a la David Kelly
His death muddies the waters, but there is so much evidence out there, it makes no sense as a cover-up. At this point when something this messy comes unglued, investigators are fighting off people confessing to get a plea bargain. The problem is figuring out who actually knows something and will make a good witness in court. Then the lawyers get involved crafting the actual deal to be offered.
If this was the US it would look like flea market/boot sale because many US prosecutors are elected and want higher office. They would be going for the biggest impact possible. Murdoch would be the prize with the Prime Minister a close second.
I agree it makes little sense what with there being a veritable smogasbord of evidence out there.
We sometimes watch programmes and the Crime and Investigation Network, the attitude of prosecutors revolts me. They come across as a bunch of arrogant dick swingers
If you read about the Casey Anthony trial, or the OJ Simpson trial, you would know how much damage incompetent prosecutors can do. They can destroy good cases, put innocent people in prison, and allow the guilty to get away with it.
I don’t know if Casey Anthony did anything, but now no one will ever know.
The British system has an advantage in the way prosecutors are selected.
The difference between here and the UK is that in the UK a corporate scandal can overturn a government, while here… not so much.
Another advantage of the parliamentary system, Badtux. Serve the voters or find another line of work.