Yard reshuffle moves Paddick from Brixton frontline into backroom role

The Metropolitan Police is to prevent the return of its controversial commander Brian Paddick to his former job in Lambeth where he championed a groundbreaking liberal drugs policy.

Mr Paddick, 43, was moved from his post as borough commander in March after allegations made by his ex-boyfriend that he had smoked cannabis.

However, as a result of a "realignment" of senior posts, Mr Paddick has been told that he will not return to his south London post even if he is cleared of the allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service is expected to announce in the next few days whether he will face any charges.

The move is likely to anger the community, which includes Brixton, who have strongly backed Mr Paddick, who is openly gay, and campaigned vigorously for his return to the top job. The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, complained of the homophobic nature of the campaign against him.

The "realignment", which Scotland Yard claims has nothing to do with the drugs allegation, sees him moved to a new intelligence unit, even though he has limited experience in the field.

He will be working in a department led by assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, the country's most senior Asian police officer. Mr Paddick's previous methods and comments have caused some discomfort among his superiors, including his claims on an internet chatroom that he was attracted to the concept of anarchism.

However, the move away from Lambeth is likely to stoke further controversy despite Scotland Yard's claims that a total of 22 commanders and 10 deputy assistant commissioners have been affected by the changes, partly brought about by a review from outside management consultants, according to a spokesman.

Mr Paddick was moved to the human resources department after claims that he had smoked 100 cannabis joints. The police inquiry, headed by Gordon Clark, the deputy chief constable of Humberside police, also examined claims Mr Paddick allowed the drug to be kept at home by his ex-boyfriend, James Renolleau.

The inquiry also examined whether he had breached police guidelines by not telling his superiors that Mr Renolleau was on bail for alleged fraud while they were together.

Mr Paddick has consistently denied the allegations.