'Stunned by this decision' - Dee Doocey AM

3.45.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 9th Sep 2008

Commenting on the decision taken by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to temporarily relieve Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur of his responsibilities Dee Doocey AM, the policing spokesperson at the London Assembly's Liberal Democrat's group, says: "I'm stunned by this decision from Sir Ian Blair."

On Monday evening the Metropolitan Police Authority's Professional Standards Cases Sub-committee met to consider allegations of misconduct brought against AC Ghaffur.

At the meeting Dep Comm Sir Paul Stephenson asked the Metropolitan Police Authority to consider whether there had been any misconduct by AC Ghaffur following the public press conference he held on 28 August.

The Sub-committee concluded there were potential grounds for misconduct but concluded that the conditions for suspension, as laid down in Misconduct Regulations, had not been met.

Dee says: "I'm very concerned that despite the sub-committee finding there were no grounds for suspension, the following morning AC Ghaffur is suddenly relieved of his duties and sent on holiday by the Commissioner.

"What's the point of a standards committee if their decisions are going to be totally ignored by the MPS?"

In a statement Sir Ian Blair has said "leadership and confidence in the MPS as an organisation, and the security and safety concerns of Londoners are being affected [by AC Ghaffur continuing in his job]. It is also clear that this is having a negative impact on the London 2012 Olympic Security programme and risks undermining confidence in it."

Dee says: "The Commissioner hasn't produced a shred of evidence to prove this and I'd suggest there's a much larger negative impact by his own continuing tenure at the top of the Met, which has been mired in controversy after controversy."