Make Met accountable, says Mayor

Boris Johnson wants the mayor to be able to hold the police to account

Boris Johnson has said that as London mayor he should have the power to hold the head of Scotland Yard to account.

He also claimed Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair would agree there should be a "democratic mechanism" to scrutinise the role.

Mr Johnson said "there should be some mechanism by which the mayor can hold the police to account".

Currently, the home secretary and Metropolitan Police Authority jointly appoint the commissioner.

Earlier, Sir Ian said he and the new mayor had formed a working relationship "very quickly".

Mr Johnson was speaking after an award ceremony for long-serving officers in Hendon, north-west London.

He said: "I do not think it is right that we are proceeding with a system where there is no democratic control over our police service and I think our commissioner would agree with that." Sir Ian said he did not feel a sense of being on probation with Mr Johnson.

"He cannot sack me... he has been wise enough to say what's the point of going on about sacking someone he cannot sack." Mr Johnson will take control of the Metropolitan Police Authority, the force's governing body, in October.

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