Latest news with #LordBlair
Sky News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died aged 72. Lord Blair led the force for three years between 2005 and 2008 and was in charge during the 7/7 London bombings. The 20th anniversary of the 2005 attack, which killed 52 people, was on Monday. The Met's response notoriously included the shooting dead of an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, at Stockwell Tube station two weeks later. He was killed under the mistaken belief he was a suicide bomber. False details about how he acted were put out by the Met, insinuating the Brazilian was in some way responsible for what happened. Lord Blair repeated those details and was later accused of a cover-up and obstructing inquiries into the incident. Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt said "it effectively blighted his time as commissioner" and that "history will probably judge him quite harshly". "But there were good things," he added. "[Lord Blair] took hold of the Met and forged a much better relationship with MI5 in the wake of the 7/7 bombings. "Some of his big things were diversity and he reformed the way the Met recruited - people from ethnic communities. "He was a big supporter of neighbourhood policing. Although that, over the years, dwindled due to a lack of funding. But it's more or less the model police forces across Britain are reintroducing." Lord Blair quit his role in 2008 after saying he didn't have the confidence of then-mayor Boris Johnson. Viewed as a liberal figure, he was sometimes jokingly referred to as "PC Blair" by other officers. He joined the police in the 1970s and served with other forces before joining the Met. His early work as a detective in London included investigating the fatal 1987 King's Cross fire. Senior positions for the Thames Valley and Surrey forces followed before he returned to the capital as deputy commissioner - and then the top job. Lord Blair was a crossbench peer and was active in the House of Lords right up until his death.
Daily Mail
12-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair who oversaw London's response to the 7/7 attacks dies at the age of 72
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died at the age of 72. The senior officer led the London force between 2005 and 2008 - and was at the forefront of the response to the 7/7 Tube bombings that killed 52 people. He was also in charge when, two weeks later, armed officers shot dead Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes, after mistaking him for a terror suspect. Lord Blair's death was announced tonight by the University of Oxford 's Christ Church College, where he studied English. The college said in a social media post: 'The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, The Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72. 'Lord Blair, an alumnus and Honorary Student (fellow) of Christ Church, served as the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008.' Born in Chester, Lord Blair joined the Met in 1974 as part of its graduate entry scheme. He began his career as a Constable in central London and after ten years on the beat, he quickly rose up the ranks. Lord Blair became a Detective Chief Inspector in 1985 and responded to the devastating Kings Cross Fire which killed 31 people. He then moved to Thames Valley Police for a role as the force's Assistant Chief Constable, before returning to London in 2000. Lord Blair was appointed commissioner of The Met in February 2005, just months before London was targeted by four suicide bombers. Fifty two people died in the horrific attacks - which unfolded 20 years ago this week across the London transport network. Two weeks later, firearms officers shot dead Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Underground station, after mistaking him for a terror suspect. While Lord Blair was cleared of any personal wrongdoing, he faced backlash about the shooting for the remainder of his time as commissioner. The Met Police was ultimately found to have breached health and safety laws over the incident at Stockwell Station in south London. In his 2008 letter of resignation from the Met, Lord Blair said: 'It has been the proudest task of my life to lead the men and women of the Metropolitan Police. 'It is the duty of the commissioner to lead the Met through good times and bad: To accept the burdens and pressures of office and, above all, to be a steward of the service he commands.' Lord Blair was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1999 before being knighted in 2003. He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2010. He married Felicity White in 1980, and the couple had a son and a daughter. London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: 'Lord Ian Blair dedicated over 30 years to public service as a police officer - rising through the ranks from a graduate recruit to becoming Commissioner of the Met.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair dies aged 72
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair, who was in charge of the force during the July 7 bombings, has died at the age of 72. Ian Blair, who ran the force from 2005 to 2008, took a seat as a crossbench peer in 2010 when he became Lord Blair of Boughton. He had earlier been knighted in 1999. His death was confirmed by Christ Church Oxford, where he was an honorary student. In a statement on Friday, Christ Church Oxford said: 'The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, the Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72. 'Lord Blair, an alumnus and honorary student (fellow) of Christ Church, served as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008.' The often controversial senior police officer saw his career cut short when he was axed from Scotland Yard by Tory mayor Boris Johnson. Until that point, he had held on to the job despite the furore caused by death of Jean Charles de Menezes, whom police shot at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after mistaking him for a suicide bomber. He clung on through a series of further hurdles with the support of the Home Secretary, the Police Authority and most of all, his senior officers. But when the new mayor took charge of the Police Authority and told him privately that he had no confidence in his work, he walked out. Lord Blair was chief constable of Surrey Police for two years before becoming deputy commissioner of the Met in 2000, taking over the top job five years later.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died, Sky News understands
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died aged 72, Sky News understands. Lord Blair led the force for three years between 2005 and 2008 and was in charge during the 7/7 London bombings. The , which killed 52 people, was on Monday. The Met's response notoriously including the shooting dead of an innocent man, Jean Charles de Menezes, at Stockwell Tube station two weeks later. He was killed under the mistaken belief he was a suicide bomber. False details about how he acted were put out by the Met, insinuating the Brazilian was in some way responsible for what happened. Lord Blair repeated those details and was later accused of a cover-up and obstructing inquiries into the incident. "It effectively blighted his time as commissioner," said Sky News crime correspondent Martin Brunt. "But there were good things. He took hold of the Met and forged a much better relationship with MI5 in the wake of the 7/7 bombings," Brunt adds. "Some of his big things were diversity and he reformed the way the Met recruited - people from ethnic communities. "He was a big supporter of neighbourhood policing. Although that, over the years, dwindled due to a lack of funding; but it's more or less the model police forces across Britain are reintroducing." Originally appointed by Labour, Lord Blair quit as commissioner in late 2008 saying he did not have the confidence of the new Tory mayor Boris Johnson. Lord Blair was seen as a liberal figure - sometimes jokingly referred to as "PC Blair" by other officers - and was active in the House of Lords right up until his death. He joined the police in 1970s and served with other forces before joining the Met, where his work as a detective included investigating the fatal 1987 King's Cross fire. Lord Blair later held senior positions for the Thames Valley and Surrey forces before returning to the capital as deputy commissioner - and then the top job. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
Sky News
11-07-2025
- Sky News
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died, Sky News understands
Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Ian Blair has died aged 72, Sky News understands. Lord Blair led the force for three years between 2005 and 2008 and was in charge during the response to the 7/7 London bombings. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version.
