Channel 4 man takes Met Police post

A senior Channel 4 News executive has been appointed as the new head of communications at Scotland Yard after his predecessor quit over a contract awarded to a former News of the World deputy editor.

Martin Fewell, who worked for Channel 4 News for 14 years, joins Britain's biggest police force after a bruising period when the Leveson Inquiry revealed tensions between former senior officers and failings in the original phone-hacking inquiry.

Mr Fewell said: "I am extremely proud to take up this opportunity to work with the Commissioner and his team, and can't wait to get started."

His predecessor Dick Fedorcio, a PR professional, left the job after learning that he faced disciplinary charges over his decision to hire former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis's company to provide advice for the Met. Mr Wallis was arrested during the hacking inquiry but has not been charged.