HE WAS ONE OF US, SAY DISMAYED BRIXTONIANS

The posters slapped on to the hoardings around Brixton tube station say it
all. One reads: "Wanted: Fellow Brixtonian. For being accessible to Lambeth
people. For understanding Lambeth people. For wanting to make a
difference." More than 20 years after riots that pitted local people
against the police, the community is now backing the reinstatement of
Commander Brian Paddick, who was until Monday in charge of police in the
London borough of Lambeth.

A petition is circulating demanding his return. He was moved sideways after
a former boyfriend was offered a lot of money and told a newspaper that the
commander had smoked more than 100 spliffs in front of him.

The elderly flower seller outside the tube station says she is disgusted
that Mr Paddick has been shunted off to another area: "I think it's
diabolical. I would strangle that boyfriend. I admire Paddick, good luck to
him. He's done a good job round here."

Tony Benest, owner of Brixton Wholefoods for 20 years, has gathered more
than 50 signatures for the Paddick petition. He blames homophobia within
the police force for Mr Paddick's removal.

"This has overtones of the days when homosexuality was illegal," he says.
"This is the first time I have heard of a case where people here have
spoken out for a person who is in a position of authority."

Local trader Rebecca Johnson says: "Brixton has got its own character and
community and Paddick understood that and he was part of it. Anybody who is
educated these days knows that smoking marijuana is no big deal and
pandering to that middle England, Daily Mail mentality is just to get votes.

"What he had done was just realistic policing. He looked at what are our
problems and what are our priorities. He saw that valuable public money
should not be wasted on trivial issues."

Down at Brixton Market, fruitseller Charles Champion does not agree with
the legalisation of cannabis - he says it's the thin end of the wedge - but
he wants Mr Paddick back.

"I don't care if he wears a yellow crash helmet and says he's a Moonie," he
says. "He's put a lot of older, experienced officers on the beat here. I
think he's been scapegoated because he's gay."