Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland?

Just a matter of weeks after Sir Paul Stephenson resigned as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and rumours are now circulating that Stephen House, Chief Constable of Strathclyde police is now tipped as favourite to take on the top job at Scotland Yard.

According to reports, both the Home Secretary and Mayor of London, Boris Johnson have formally asked House to apply for the job, key indicators of the support his application would have.

Outlining his background and track record, the Scotsman has explained:

“Mr House, who moved to Strathclyde’s top job in 2007, is credited with taking a tough approach to violent crime in Glasgow city centre, initiating campaigns against domestic violence, sectarianism and football hooliganism and keeping a close watch on financial resources. He has also become a leading light in the drive for a single police force for Scotland, after a hesitant start.”

Reaction from across Scotland, from those of all parties and none has also been supportive of any bid by House to head the Met Police.

The Scottish Lib Dem councillor for example, Christopher Mason, a member of the Strathclyde Police Authority has explained:

“He’s amply qualified, he’s the right age, has the right experience of the Met and has the right ambition. He will want to distance the force from the phone-hacking scandal in every way he can, which will be a challenge, but he has the ambition to give it a go.”

Picking up on his previous experience at Scotland Yard Mason continued:

“He was Cressida Dick’s boss, the officer in command of the operation on the day Jean Charles de Menezes was shot in July 2005 at Stockwell Tube station in London, but he was on leave that day. He well understands the command response.”

For Graeme Pearson meanwhile, a Scottish Labour MSP, member of the Scottish Parliament’s Justice Committee and the former Director General of the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency, House’s experiences in Strathclyde provides the experience needed to lead the UK’s largest police force. Quoted in the Scotsman he has argued:

“Being chief constable of Strathclyde Police is a demanding job. I think that, all too often, it is thought that policing the capital city of London itself is real kudos and enough to make a fist of the top job. Some rise up through the system without encouraging challenges. This in not the case in Strathclyde.”

For the Scottish Government, careful to argue that it was not their responsibility to comment on who should lead the Met, a spokesperson did describe House as an “excellent Chief Constable”.

http://twitter.com/scott_redding/status/97930978470797312 Scott Redding

RT @leftfootfwd: Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland? – http://bit.ly/q9fM1W
http://twitter.com/debscov65/status/97932071833575424 Deborah Dyer

“@leftfootfwd: Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland?: http://t.co/jXdLf82 : writes @edjacobs1985”. @unisonbl ?!?!?!
http://twitter.com/_jdavenport/status/97936916963528704 justin davenport

RT @leftfootfwd: Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland? http://t.co/GS0kUgp
http://twitter.com/thistlejohn/status/97938450287833089 Paris Gourtsoyannis

Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland?: http://bit.ly/q9fM1W : writes @edjacobs1985
Selohesra

I’m sure he is a very credible candidate – however I suspect from a security point of view we would all have been safer had Yates & Stephenson not been forced to resign.

Had Labour pursued this story when they were in power rather than waiting until the Murdiochs had dumped them and they were consigned to opposition then I suspect that the story would have been properly investigated at the time and Yates & Stephenson would still be in place continuing to do an excellent job in difficult circumstances.
Anon E Mouse

Ed Jacobs – There are enough bloody Scotch in our country already.

Why can’t we send a load back to Scotland?

Start with Gordon Brown. He was never elected as a Prime Minister and has only spoken in the commons twice since the country let him know how they felt about him and one of his speeches was a pack of lies.

Oh and send Wee Dougie Alexander back as well….
http://twitter.com/tpreadthis/status/97954829518905344 TP recommends…

Could the Chief Constable of Strathclyde be the next Met Police Commissoner? Ed Jacobs @leftfootfwd thinks so http://dld.bz/aj79a
Selohesra

Have you been on holiday Mr Mouse? – havent seen many postings from you recently.
http://twitter.com/will_tanner/status/97955994340044800 Will Tanner

More rumours linking Stephen House, Chief Constable of Strathclyde, to the vacant Met Commissioner job: http://t.co/B7iQWUH @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/jonbcollins/status/97958706913886208 Jon Collins

Would be interesting to know where reports that Stephen House is favourite to become Met Commissioner are coming from http://t.co/34lt6Fg
http://twitter.com/scottishpolice/status/97972453078335489 Scottish Police

Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland? – Left Foot Forward http://tinyurl.com/3sjbkkw
http://twitter.com/nooffencecic/status/97987791870373888 No Offence!

Would be interesting to know where reports that Stephen House is favourite to become Met Commissioner are coming from http://t.co/34lt6Fg
Anon E Mouse

Selohesra – Too busy defending myself against Labour slurs from various activists on this fine blog:

Over here: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/07/compass-book-puts-to-labour-green-co-operation/comment-page-1/#comment-123922

We have the consistent Leon Wolfson calling me racist and claiming that Socialism has now moved rightwards instead of admitting no one wants it.

And here: http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/07/pre-entry-english-tests-are-unfair-impractical-and-potentially-discriminatory/comment-page-1/#comment-123925

Various people are defending NHS funds being spent on translators instead of curing people’s ills and Wolfy is saying the NHS is free because you don’t need a credit card to access it!!!

Other than that just busy at work fella but waiting for Piers Morgan to be rumbled…
http://twitter.com/glasgow1967/status/98090572602028032 Derek Gordon

Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland? | Left Foot …: The Chief Constable … http://bit.ly/pdlfcE #News #Scotland #UK
Leon Wolfson

He’s been attacking the NHS’s ability to treat anyone not of the “appropriate” race and denying the large number of countries with a socialist government, Selohesra, as well as thinking Prime Ministers in this country are directly elected.

Now he wants to get rid of the Scots, since they’re not pure-blooded enough. Typical BNP thinking.
http://twitter.com/unisonbl/status/98134425828737024 Branch Chairperson

@sirianblair @met2moz http://t.co/jXdLf82 Could the next Scotland Yard chief come from Scotland?
Selohesra

Mouse & Wolfie bickering again – gets me in the mood for a short holiday in the sun next week – lovely surroundings, a few glasses of something chilled, work kept at b’berry length away and yes the kids bickering consrtantly
Anon E Mouse

Leon Wolfson – Get rid of the Scots? Too bloody right and unless you hadn’t noticed, despite Labour’s gerrymandering, they elected a political party the SNP who want independence for their own country.

Let them have it. The only reason Labour hate the idea is because the place used to be one of their heartlands but not any longer and without Scottish MP’s they can never win in the UK again.

They couldn’t even win an outright majority in Wales which speaks volumes…
Anon E Mouse

Selohesra – Have a good break fella.

Somehow, providing the Taliban haven’t assassinated him in his local Asda, I’m sure Wolfy and I will still be at it.

He’s great! Safe trip man…..