Supporters of the police commander who pioneered a lenient approach to cannabis in Lambeth have demanded he be returned to his former job.

The Metropolitan Police has revealed that Brian Paddick, 43, will help implement the National Intelligence Model, the force's new blueprint for reducing crime, and will not return to the south London borough.

Mr Paddick, Britain's highest-ranking openly gay policeman, is currently under investigation after a former boyfriend alleged he smoked cannabis.

He will be moved once the inquiry has been completed.

Damaged relations

But the Support Brian Paddick Campaign has said if he does not come back to Lambeth, it will damage relations between the community and police.

The decision has angered the group as it claims it pre-empts a Crown Prosecution Service announcement, expected within days, on whether Mr Paddick will face charges.

"Brian Paddick is a respected police officer who has been the victim of contrived allegations," said a campaign spokesman.

"Many members of this community do not trust the police further than they can throw them.

Cannabis users were warned and not arrested

"What are those of us who feel that it is worth working with the police to tell them now?"

Mr Paddick was moved from his �93,000-a-year post after the allegations were made in March.

Scotland Yard said the decision to reallocate him was due to a restructuring programme.

Metropolitan Police Authority chairman Lord Harris said Mr Paddick would have been moved regardless of the outcome of the inquiry.

Attractive anarchism

"The post he has been assigned is an extremely important one," he said.

"The reality is that this is not about the allegations or the work he did in Lambeth."

Under his cannabis scheme users were warned rather than arrested when they were caught with the drug.

The initiative caused concern among senior police officers, as did Mr Paddick's comments on a website where he expressed an attraction to the concept of anarchy.