Police chief is latest high-profile resignation in hacking scandal
In a statement, Stephenson said he had no knowledge of the extent of phone-hacking allegations at the now defunct News of the World newspaper.
Britain’s police have been criticised over allegations of accepting money from News of the World and other newspapers and of not doing enough to investigate phone-hacking allegations.
Stephenson said: “I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met’s links with News International at a senior level and, in particular, in relation to Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week.
“Firstly, I want to say what an enormous privilege it has been for me to lead this great organisation that is the Met. The recent example of the heroism and bravery of Met officers in chasing armed suspects, involving the shooting of one of my officers, is typical; but is in danger of being eclipsed by the ongoing debate about relationships between senior officers and the media. This can never be right.
“I have heard suggestions that we must have suspected the alleged involvement of Mr Wallis in phone hacking. Let me say unequivocally that I did not and had no reason to have done so. I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging; nor of its apparent reach into senior levels.
“I saw senior figures from News International providing evidence that the misbehaviour was confined to a rogue few and not known about at the top. One can only wonder about the motives of those within the newspaper industry or beyond, who now claim that they did know but kept quiet.
“Though mine and the Met’s current severe discomfort is a consequence of those few that did speak out, I am grateful to them for doing so.”
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