Scotland Yard chief resigns

Britain’s most senior police officer sensationally resigned tonight over revelations surrounding the phone hacking scandal.

Scotland Yard Commissioner Paul Stephenson cited allegations surrounding his association with former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis for his shock announcement.

The bombshell came hours after former editor Rebekah Brooks was arrested on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption.

Paul 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 Mr Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week.”

Sir Paul insisted his integrity was intact despite pressure on him intensifying this weekend after it emerged he accepted thousands of pounds' worth of free accommodation at a luxury health spa.

The commissioner had already been under fire for hiring Mr Wallis as a PR consultant before the former tabloid executive was arrested for mobile phone interceptions.

But issuing his statement at Scotland Yard, he said: “Let me state clearly, I and the people who know me know that my integrity is completely intact.

“I may wish we had done some things differently, but I will not lose sleep over my personal integrity.”

Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, said: ``It is with great sadness and reluctance that I have tonight accepted the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.

“I would like to stress that I have absolutely no reason to doubt the complete integrity of Sir Paul and I believe him to be a fine, passionate and committed public servant who has done a huge amount of good for our city.

“Sir Paul believes, however, that the phone hacking saga now threatens to become a serious distraction during the run up to the Olympic Games.

“He has persuaded me that someone else should now be allowed to take his work forward so that the focus can return to policing and bringing down crime.

“I should like to pay personal tribute to his outstanding leadership at the Metropolitan Police.

“He has helped to bring crime down by 9% in three years. He has put more officers on the beat, protected safer neighbourhood teams and increased patrols by a million a year on the streets of London.

“It is a mark of his work and determination that crime on public transport has fallen by 30% and that the murder rate is now at its lowest since 1978.

“If there has been any wrongdoing by members of the Metropolitan Police it is vital that this should now be exposed and cleared up in the inquiries under way.

“But it is my strong belief that Sir Paul and the overwhelming majority of police officers have dedicated their careers to the public good and for that we owe him and them our thanks.”