NO LAMBETH RETURN FOR PADDICK

The police commander who pioneered a lenient approach to deal with cannabis
in Lambeth will not be returning to his former job.

Brian Paddick, currently under investigation over allegations he smoked
cannabis, will be moved to another post once the inquiry is finished.

He has been told his new job in the Metropolitan Police will be to implement
the National Intelligence Model, a recently-developed blueprint for cutting
crime.

The decision not to allow him back to Lambeth is partly due to a
restructuring of senior posts.

'Realigning Structure'

The cannabis scheme he introduced, where cannabis users were warned rather
than arrested, caused unease among senior officers, as did his comments on a
website saying he was attracted to the concept of anarchism.

Mr Paddick, who is Britain's highest-ranking openly gay policeman, was
removed from Lambeth after allegations from a former boyfriend that he
smoked cannabis.

The Crown Prosecution Service will announce in the next few days whether he
will face charges.

In a statement Scotland Yard said: "We can confirm the Metropolitan Police
is realigning its management structure.

"As part of the realignment, Commander Paddick will be taking on
responsibility for the Met operation of the National Intelligence Model
which will be part of the new specialist crime command under Assistant
Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur. "