The Metropolitan Police commissioner who resigned at the weekend over Scotland Yard’s links with News of the World has told a committee of MPs that almost a quarter of the Met’s public affairs office is staffed by journalists who had previously worked at the tabloid’s parent company.
In his last public engagement as Met chief, Sir Paul Stephenson told the home affairs select committee that 10 out of the 45 staff in the Met’s external communications office were former News International employees.
“I understand that there are 10 members of the [directorate of public affairs] staff who have worked in News International in the past, in some cases journalists, in some cases undertaking work experience with the organisation,’’ Sir Paul said.