Paddick hits out at government crime policy

Commander Brian Paddick has attacked the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, for setting "meaningless" crime reduction targets and has accused the police service of turning its back on "radical thinkers".

Britain's most senior openly gay police officer said that the Government is more concerned with winning votes than satisfying the real needs of communities.

The comments, which have only just emerged, were made at a conference on police reform earlier this month. In his speech at the Royal College of Arts, he criticised selection boards for choosing officers in their own, conservative image.

Street crime was not a significant problem for some of the police forces which took part in the Government's street crime initiative, he said.

"Only a small proportion of the public is affected by robbery. Far greater numbers are affected by open drug dealing," he said. As Commander of Lambeth police, Mr Paddick piloted a "softly, softly" approach to cannabis use.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced last week that Mr Paddick would face no charges over allegations that he allowed cannabis to be smoked in his home. The Metropolitan Police Authority meets tomorrow to considerdisciplinary action.