Police chief 'sorry' for accusation

7:30pm Monday 22nd December 2008

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Britain's anti-terror chief has made an unreserved apology to the Conservative Party for accusing it of trying to undermine a Whitehall leaks inquiry.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick retracted his remarks hours after Tory leader David Cameron demanded he withdraw the "completely baseless" allegations.

Mr Quick said: I have now reflected on the comments I made yesterday at a difficult time for me and my family. I wish to make clear that it was not my intention to make any allegations and retract my comments. I apologise unreservedly for any offence or embarrassment that I have caused."

But although the Tories accepted the apology and said it "drew a line" under the controversy, shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve called on Mr Quick to ask colleagues whether he should hand over the case.

Mr Grieve told the BBC: "It seems to me that the proper course of action is for Mr Quick to reflect on whether he has maintained the necessary objectivity to continue with this investigation.

"That is doubtless a matter which, as a professional police officer, he can discuss professionally with his colleagues and I don't think it is for me to say one way or another."

Mr Cameron earlier told London's LBC Radio: "I can absolutely guarantee that the Conservative Party had nothing to do with the publication of this story.

"So I think Bob Quick really does have to withdraw what is a completely baseless allegation.I am sure he will want to do that because in life, if you make a mistake, the best thing to do is to correct it as quickly as you can. So that's what he ought to do."

Acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson voiced his support for Mr Quick and indicated that, as far as Scotland Yard was concerned, the matter was now at an end.

"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.