Watchdog clears top cops but warns over future hospitality

The Scotland Yard chiefs who quit over the phone-hacking scandal have been cleared of misconduct.

Allegations against former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and his ex-assistant John Yates were thrown out yesterday by the police watchdog.

Andy Hayman and Peter Clarke will also escape further investigation despite the “damaging effect of the perceived inadequate response” to criminal activities at the News of the World, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said.

Sir Paul and Mr Yates – who both resigned last month as the Metropolitan Force was engulfed by allegations of payments from journalists to officers and criticism over the force’s hiring of hacking suspect Neil Wallis as a PR consultant – welcomed the watchdog’s announcement.

Sir Paul said the ruling was “as I would have expected it to be” as he added that he regretted that resources “have had to be expended on this matter”.

He reacted angrily in response to IPCC deputy chair Deborah Glass saying the public would decide if he had been right to accept hospitality from a health spa.

“The IPCC’s comments about my acceptance of assistance from a friend through my family, unconnected to my professional life, of services from Champneys’ Medical Services, which they chose to examine under their powers without any external referral, does in my view fall a little short of full and proper context,” Sir Paul added.

“However, this is a matter for their judgment.”

An independent investigation into allegations that Mr Yates secured a Scotland Yard job for the daughter of Mr Wallis will continue.

Mr Yates said: “I strongly deny any wrongdoing and I am completely confident that I will be exonerated.

“I have been entirely open about this matter and I will co-operate fully with the investigation which I hope will be conducted swiftly.”

The officers were cleared as the crisis was reignited by fresh evidence claiming phone hacking was “widely discussed” at the former tabloid newspaper under Andy Coulson’s editorship.

Exonneration of Sir Paul, Mr Clarke, a former deputy assistant commissioner, Mr Yates and Mr Hayman, both former assistant commissioners, coincided with deadline day for applications for the next commissioner.

Ms Glass said she believes there could be no doubt about the damaging impact on public confidence surrounding the inquiry.

“But while there can be little doubt of the effect on the public’s mind about the series of revelations regarding connections between senior police officers and News International, the IPCC must identify what is, and what is not, conduct that needs to be investigated,” she said.

A clear line must be drawn between what is a recordable conduct matter and public concerns that will be addressed by the public inquiry, she added.

“In relation to Sir Paul Stephenson, his conduct was referred by the MPA because of his responsibility for the alleged failings of John Yates. But while he is in principle answerable for decisions made on his watch as Commissioner for the Metropolis, I do not think he committed a misconduct offence.”

Ms Glass said she had considered Sir Paul’s acceptance of hospitality from Champneys’ luxury spa.

“The public will make its own judgments about whether any senior public official should accept hospitality to this extent from anyone,” she said.