Darren Johnson, who is also Leader of the Green Party Group in the London Assembly, has named Paddick as his preferred choice to replace Sir John Stevens when the current Metropolitian Police Commissioner retires.
“Brian Paddick has an excellent record as a police officer and his pioneering approach to cannabis led the way in Lambeth and meant that police officers could concentrate on real crimes with real victims like muggings and burglaries.
We need senior police officers who are prepared to look at new ideas, who have the support of the local community and who can get crime rates down. Brian Paddick has all of these qualities,” said Darren.
Brian Paddick is the former Borough Commander of Lambeth who was controversially suspended following unfounded allegations in the tabloid press.
He was cleared of any misconduct but was transferred from his job at Lambeth, even though over five thousand Lambeth residents signed a petition calling for him to be reinstated.
Darren added, “With myself as Mayor and Brian as Police Commissioner, Londoners could look forward to a much brighter future. It would be a marriage made in heaven.”
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. Darren Johnson is 37 and openly gay. He was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
2. The Mayoral election will be held next year at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
For further information and to arrange interviews with Darren Johnson contact: Keith Magnum on 07739 968 825