Posted on 07/18/2011 7:32:13 AM PDT by Cardhu
John Yates, the under-fire assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police tendered his resignation on Monday afternoon amid reports he was about to be suspended pending ongoing investigations into the phone-hacking investigation.
The move follows the resignation of his boss Sir Paul Stephenson, who quit as Met commissioner on Sunday evening. MPs said they were seeking to ask Mr Yates further questions on the relationship between police and News International.
Boris Johnson, mayor of London, later held a press conference at which he said “both decisions [to resign] were regrettable but in both cases, the right choice has been made.” He went on: “John yates has done a remarkable job leading the fight against terror...millions and millions of londonders are safer due to the actions of John Yates and his team, and that team will now be led by assistant commissioner Cressida Dick.”
(Excerpt) Read more at ft.com ...
So what do the police have to do with the tabloid cell phone hacking? Were they actually involved in the process or just looking the other way? I’m having a hard time understanding this story.
This whole mess doesn’t seem to attract much attention this side of the pond. It seems a bit puzzling...............
Yes, it seems silly to Americans. I think this is a British ‘scandal’ that is a total enigma..............
They were involved in having a fake investigation of News International because of corruption and a too cozy relationship with that group.
Even the Prime Minister was involved by having a spokesman recommended by Rupert Murdoch.
The direct allegations against the police are that some police officers took bribes from News International (UK subsidiary of News Corporation) journalists for information about celebrities, politicians, members of the royal family etc. This could have an effect in the United States because it would appear to be in breach of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which makes it an offense for American companies, as News Corp. is, to bribe foreign officials.
The police are also accused of incompetence by not properly investigating the allegations in 2007 and 2009, either by not taking the allegations seriously enough, which in hindsight was a big mistake, or as you say, looking the other way hoping it would drop off the radar as an issue.
The arrest of Rebekah Brooks attracted 120 posts on FR
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.