Statement by Len Duvall, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority

14/06
13 March 2006

Following Len Duvall’s meeting with senior officers of the Metropolitan Police Service, he said:

“I fully appreciate the clear and understandable public concern about the issues raised by these events. The MPA’s role is to hold the Commissioner to account for his actions.

“On behalf of the MPA I have made it clear to the Commissioner that it is wholly unacceptable for private telephone conversations to be recorded without the knowledge and consent of both parties involved. The Commissioner accepts this and has given me an assurance this will never happen again.

“Following my discussions this afternoon I am satisfied that the Commissioner recorded only six calls since he came into office in February 2005. Sir Ian has expressed regret for not agreeing with the individuals concerned that the calls could be recorded.

“Of those six calls, three were with representatives of the IPCC – Nick Hardwick and Roy Clark on 22 July 2005 and one with John Wadham on 19 August 2005.

“A fourth call was with the Attorney General on 8 September 2005 to whom the Commissioner apologised and explained why this happened. This apology has been accepted by the Attorney General who now considers the matter closed.

“At the conclusion of the call to the Attorney General Sir Ian immediately made a call to a member of his family and as the machine did not disconnect this fifth call was also accidentally recorded.

“The sixth call was to Ian Katz of the Guardian on 26 January 2006 with whom the Commissioner had been giving a series of face to face recorded interviews over the past year. Due to time scales and availability this final interview took place over the telephone and was therefore also recorded, as is normal practice for interviews with journalists.

“We understand that there are no further tape recordings by Sir Ian and these were the only calls that have been recorded.

“In the past 12 months the Commissioner and the MPS have faced unprecedented challenges while at the same time reviewing London’s police service. Satisfaction and confidence have shown significant improvement because of reforms such as Safer Neighbourhoods which will transform the way the Capital is policed.

“Even Ian Blair’s detractors can not diminish the significant achievement under his leadership. I now expect Sir Ian to get on with his important job of making London safer.”

Notes to editors

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