Race begins for Met Police top job

5:09am Friday 3rd October 2008

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The race to succeed Sir Ian Blair in Britain's top policing job has begun in earnest following his shock resignation.

The Metropolitan Police head said he could not continue without the support of London Mayor Boris Johnson.

But it remains to be seen who will win the blessing of the new Tory City Hall administration and the votes of Police Authority members.

For those at the top of policing, the Commissioner's office on the 13th floor of New Scotland Yard remains a glittering prize.

Top among the candidates is deputy commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson who will stand in as acting head after Sir Ian steps down on December 1.

Names thrust into the frame include Northern Ireland police chief Sir Hugh Orde, West Yorkshire head Sir Norman Bettison and Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

Others include Peter Neyroud, head of the National Policing Improvement Agency, Kent chief constable Mike Fuller and Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) president Ken Jones.

All eyes will now be on the first meeting of the Authority, effectively the Met's board of governors, on Monday.

The meeting will be the first with Mr Johnson in charge and he has already ordered a series of reports on key challenges facing those policing London.

Mr Johnson said he expects to be judged on whether he can cut crime and make Londoners feel safer at the end of his four-year term.