No Met Move For Orde

PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde has lost on the UK's top policing jobs, after being whittled down to one of the final two candidates for the post.

Sir Hugh was beaten for the Metropolitan Commissioner position by Sir Paul Stephenson, the previous Acting Commissioner.

Sir Hugh began his policing career at the Met over 20 years ago.

He had risen to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner when he left in 2002 to take on the leadership of the newly-formed Police Service of Northern Ireland.

News broke last year that Sir Hugh had applied for the London job, following the high-profile resignation of Sir Ian Blair.

Sir Hugh beat off stiff competition to remain in the running for the role. Final interviews were held by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and London Mayor Boris Johnson earlier this week.

This morning it was announced that Sir Paul has been selected as the new Met boss.

In an official statement, Sir Paul said: "I am today an immensely proud policeman, to be entrusted with leadership of the Met and delivering security for the many millions who live in and visit London.

"My agenda for the coming years is straightforward – it’s about cutting and solving crime, securing our streets, convincing all our communities that we are on their side and delivering the policing they want, and being intolerant of violence in any form."

During the 1970s Sir Paul served in the former NI policing body, the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

(PR/BMcC)