Brian Paddick’s claim in today’s Telegraph that he was forced by Sir Ian Blair to support 90 days detention may help him establish a liberal identity but it poses an important question – can Londoners have confidence in a man who allowed himself to be pressured over such a fundamentally important issue?
Paddick could have refused, he could have spoken out at the time or he could have followed the path of all those troubled by a point of principle and resigned. Today’s interview make no mention of any consideration of these options.
Running a city of 8 million requires someone willing and capable of standing up for the issues which really matter – often in the face of opposition from determined and powerful interest groups.
After claiming that he allowed himself to be forced into backing such a draconian curtailment of our civil liberties Londoners may well question whether Paddick has the strength to withstand such pressures.
