De Menezes inquiry: Tories, Lib Dems call for Sir Ian's resignation (1st Update)

By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer Nov 2, 2007, 10:42 GMT

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair makes a statement after the Metropolitan Police were found guilty of health and safety charges in its shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in London, Britain, 1 November 2007. EPA/ANDY RAIN

(M&C) - Metropolitan commissioner Sir Ian Blair is continuing to resist calls for his resignation following the guilty verdict in the Jean Charles de Menezes case as Opposition parties say his position is now "untenable".

The Met was found guilty of one charge of endangering the public's health and safety in the shooting of the innocent Brazilian in July 2005.

Shadow home secretary David Davis said to reporters, "The trial has shed light on the serial failures that led to the tragic death of Mr de Menezes," said Mr Davis.

"They include failures of organisation, command and operations. The failures were systemic, falling within the clear responsibility of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police."

Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said: "This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign."

"Whilst the ruling undoubtedly raises complex questions about future police operations, the simple priority today is to show that we have a police force in London which is prepared to accept full responsibility for its actions."

However Sir Ian continues to enjoy the full support of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. He had earlier expressed "deep regret" for he shooting but said the verdict did not show systemic failure in his force and refused to resign.

The force was fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 costs after being convicted of exposing the public to safety risk.

Update: London's mayor Ken Livingstone has described the guilty verdict as "disastrous" saying the ruling will make the capital more difficult to defend in times of terrorist attack.

Speaking to reporters Mr Livingston said, "As the law now stands based on this court case, an officer has got to have at the back of their mind ... the implications of this judgement in the sort of situation that might occur again," he said.

"I think this is disastrous. If an armed police officer believes they are in pursuit of a terrorist who might be a suicide bomber and they start making these sort of calculations based on this, how is this going to be seen? Am I going to be hauled off to court?" he asked.

"At the end of the day mistakes are always going to happen in wars or situations like this," Livingstone said.

"The best you can do is to try and make the potential and the risk the minimum possible. But there will be mistakes."