Britain's top police chief 'was informed' about Damian Green pornography claims

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said alleged discovery of pornography during probe into Home Office leaks was ‘side issue’

Former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson says the alleged discovery of pornography was a ‘side issue’ (Getty)

The UK’s former top police chief knew of allegations pornography had been found on one of Damian Green’s parliamentary computers during a 2008 criminal investigation into government leaks.

Sir Paul Stephenson, who was Metropolitan Police Commissioner between 2009 and 2011, told the BBC the alleged discovery “wasn’t relevant” to the probe that involved a search of the MP’s Commons office when he was a shadow minister.

A Whitehall inquiry into the First Secretary of State, effectively the Prime Minister’s deputy, was widened last week after The Sunday Times reported that ex-Met assistant commissioner Bob Quick had discussed the alleged discovery in a separate review into Home Office leaks.

Mr Green said the story was “completely untrue” and the allegations amounted to “false, disreputable political smears”.

He added: “More importantly, the police have never suggested to me that improper material was found on my parliamentary computer, nor did I have a ‘private’ computer, as has been claimed.”

Sir Paul said he had viewed the claims as a “side issue” and it was not Scotland Yard’s role to police the workplace.

“I regret it’s in the public domain,” he said.

“There was no criminality involved, there were no victims, there was no vulnerability and it was not a matter of extraordinary public interest.”

Officers searched Mr Green‘s office and home following a spate of leaks of Home Office information in 2008, when he was an opposition MP.

He was arrested in connection with the probe in November that year, but faced no further action.

A review of the inquiry found “less intrusive methods” could have been used.

Damien Green said the allegations were ‘false, disreputable political smears’ (Getty)

A Cabinet Office inquiry into Mr Green’s conduct began earlier this month after Kate Maltby, who is three decades younger than the minister, told The Times that he “fleetingly” touched her knee during a meeting in a Waterloo pub in 2015, and a year later sent her a “suggestive” text message after she was pictured wearing a corset in the newspaper.

Mr Green said any allegation that he made sexual advances to Ms Maltby was “untrue [and] deeply hurtful”.

The First Secretary of State, Mr Quick and Sir Paul reportedly gave evidence to inquiry into Mr Green on Monday.

Mr Quick resigned his post with the Metropolitan Police in 2009 after he was photographed entering Downing Street carrying a secret briefing note on which details of the undercover operation could be seen.

He has denied disclosing the allegations regarding Mr Green’s computers to The Sunday Times.