Met chief backs Quick over Tory row

(PA)

The head of the Metropolitan Police has voiced his support for the country's most senior counter-terrorism officer following his bitter clash with the Tories over the Home Office leaks inquiry.

The Conservatives called on Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick to consider his position at the head of the investigation into the leaks to Tory frontbencher Damian Green.

But after Mr Quick apologised for accusing the Conservatives of trying to undermine his investigation, the acting Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson made it clear that he believed the matter was closed.

"Now that Bob Quick has clarified his comments and there is an acceptance of his apology, I am pleased that a line has now been drawn under this matter," he said in a statement.

"Bob Quick and his team in Specialist Operations do an excellent job in a challenging environment and they will continue to do so. The terrorist threat to this country remains very real and we must not allow ourselves to become distracted by these events. I know this will not be the case."

Although the Tories accepted Mr Quick's apology, shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve urged him to ask colleagues whether he should hand over the leak inquiry to someone else.

Mr Quick complained that he was forced to move his children out of his home amid security fears after a Sunday newspaper published details about his wife's business.

In comments suggesting the Conservatives were behind the article, he claimed the party and its supporters had been "mobilised" against his investigation.

However, in a statement, he said that it was not his intention to make any allegations and that he retracted his earlier comments.

As head of the Home Office leaks inquiry, Mr Quick approved the controversial arrest of Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, and the raid on his parliamentary office on November 27.