Scotland Yard to drop investigation into MP Damian Green

Scotland Yard will abandon its investigation into the Conservative frontbencher Damian Green after a highly critical report questioned whether its decision to send anti-terrorist officers to arrest him and search his parliamentary offices was proportionate.

The review document was delivered to the Metropolitan Police today by Ian Johnston, chief constable of British Transport Police, who spent an hour discussing his findings with Sir Paul Stephenson, the Acting Commissioner, and Bob Quick, the Met's head of Special Operations.

The report arrived on the same day that the nine applicants for the post of Commissioner were cut down to a shortlist of four. The Times understands that Sir Paul is on the shortlist but Mr Quick, who was a suprise applicant for the post, is not.

Sir Paul called for Mr Johnston's review of the inquiry two weeks ago in what was seen as an attempt to extricate the Met from a furious and growing political row. David Cameron, the Tory leader, and Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, had both attacked the decision to arrest Mr Green. Michael Martin, the Commons Speaker, also came under intense criticism for allowing police to search an MP's office without a warrant.

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Within the Yard, the operation provoked major rows and deep divisions. Officers from Mr Quick's command claimed they were right to arrest Mr Green as part of an inquiry into the leaking of information by a Home Office official while other senior officers were appalled at the tactic.

Mr Quick said tonight that he had been reassured by Mr Johnston that the arrest of Mr Green and searches of his premises were lawful.

But, he added: "He [Mr Johnston] recognises that there are arguments, either way, regarding proportionality over the manner of arrest of a Member of Parliament but questions the method taken in this case. He also raises concerns as to whether elements of the investigative approach meet current policy and best practice. These issues will be carefully considered.

"Ian Johnston notes that police investigations can be especially challenging when faced with Parliamentary rights and freedoms and suggests the Met should work with the relevant authorities to develop guidance to inform future decisions and actions in such circumstances. "

Mr Quick said the Met would urgently seek further advice on "the way forward" from the Crown Prosecution Service. Senior lawyers there are known to be shocked at the way the investigation was conducted.

A formal decision to drop the inquiry into Mr Green is likely within days but it is not yet clear what will happen in the case of Christopher Galley, the official who leaked information to the MP.

Sources said Sir Paul was assessing the damage the affair had done to his chances of becoming the next Met Commissioner. Although he is on the shortlist, he has been replaced as favourite for the job by Sir Hugh Orde, chief constable of Northern Ireland. The two other shortlisted candidates are Bernard Hogan-Howe, chief constable of Merseyside, and Sir Paul Scott-Lee, police chief in the West Midlands.

Source:the london times