New boss for Scotland Yard is “hugely proud policeman”

A 55-year-old policeman described as a ‘no-nonsense copper’ by colleagues was Wednesday named the new boss of Scotland Yard, the top job in British policing.

Paul Stephenson, who had been deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in (MET) London since 2005, succeeds Ian Blair, who stepped down after being widely blamed for mistakes in the shooting of an innocent Brazilian man by police that year.

Stephenson, whose chief tasks will be to protect Londoners from the threat of terrorism, and to devise and implement the police strategy for the 2012 London Olympics, will oversee a staff of 50,000 at Scotland Yard.

Colleagues have described him as a ‘no-nonsense-copper’ who loves his job and will stand up for his officers, rather than passing the buck.

‘I am just such a hugely proud policeman today,’ Stephenson said after his appointment by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary.

However, Stephenson caused some controversy when, last year, he advised Tariq Ghaffur, the former third-in-command at Scotland Yard, to ‘shut up’ after announcing that he was suing the force for racism.

Ghaffur, who was Britain’s most senior Asian policeman, has since resigned.

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