BORIS Johnson has paid tribute to Sir Ian Blair, the head of the Metropolitan Police who is to quit after the London Mayor told him to go.

Mr Johnson has come under fire for bringing "party politics" into the police service, after Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, claimed he failed to go through the "proper channels".

Sir Ian has made it clear that he didn't want to resign, but was forced out by the Mayor.

However, Mr Johnson was generous in his praise for the Met Commissioner in a statement explaining why he had demanded a change at the top of London's police force.

The Mayor said: "Sir Ian Blair has made a lasting and distinguished contribution to policing, in London and across the UK, for the last 34 years.

"He will be especially remembered for his successful introduction in London of the Safer Neighbourhood teams and for falling crime levels virtually across the board.

"In the face of a chronic and dangerous terrorist threat, he can be very proud of his record in helping to keep millions of Londoners safe from harm."

However, he added: "But there comes a time in any organisation when it becomes clear it would benefit from new leadership and clarity of purpose. I believe that time is now.

"And following a meeting with Sir Ian yesterday, he has agreed to give someone else the chance to offer new leadership for policing in London. And I am sure he has done the right thing."

Speaking on BBC's Question Time earlier this week, Ms Smith claimed that the correct procedure for removing a commissioner is for the head of the Metropolitan Police Authority to seek her approval.

She said: "There's a process in place that the Mayor chose not to respect.

"What is important when you are both choosing and when you're supporting somebody that you're asking to do a job like that is that you keep party politics out of it.

"You need to work alongside people and frankly you should put some time and effort into that.

"The Mayor said on the first day in his job he didn't feel he had confidence in Sir Ian and that's why he took the decision to resign."

Ken Livingstone, the former London Mayor, also criticised Mr Johnson. He said: "This makes the role of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner much more political."

In his resignation statement on Thursday, Sir Ian said: ""I would have wished to continue to serve Londoners until my time of office expires in February 2010.

"However, at a meeting yesterday, the new mayor made clear, in a very pleasant but determined way, that he wished there to be a change of leadership at the Met.

"I understand that to serve effectively, the Commissioner must have the confidence of both the Mayor and the Home Secretary."

Related links: Boris Johnson's Statement.

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