Gordon Brown defends anti-terrorism operation after resignation of Bob Quick
By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent | April 9, 2009
Mr Quick, Britain's anti-terrorism chief, quit as a policeman after being told he had lost the confidence of MI5 and the Home Secretary because of his security blunder.
Speaking during a tour in Carlisle, the Prime Minister thanked Mr Quick for his years of service in the police.
"Let me first thank all of the police forces that have been involved in the arrest of the suspected terrorists," he said.
"We have been investigating a major terrorist plot and we have got to act early.
"Our first concern is always the safety of the public. It is right that we took the urgent action that we did over the course of yesterday.
"I have spoken to Bob Quick this morning and thanked him for his years of service.
"He has apologised for what went wrong yesterday.
"I have also spoken to Sir Paul Stephenson, the head of the Metropolitan Police, and said we expect this investigation to move forward."
Mr Quick admitted that he could have compromised a huge police and intelligence operation of co-ordinated raids on a suspected al-Qaeda cell.
The Assistant Commissioner was photographed entering Downing Street on Wednesday carrying a secret briefing note on which details of the undercover operation – codenamed Pathway – could be seen.
After months of undercover surveillance, officers were forced to launch the raids at short notice, and a former Scotland Yard anti-terrorism chief said that the blunder could have "risked lives". One suspect was arrested by armed police outside a busy university library in Liverpool.
Asked whether there were lessons to be learned, Mr Brown said: "I spoke to Mr Quick this morning. He has made his apologies and was very concerned that an apology was made for a blunder that happened, but we must remember the context of this.
"We are dealing with a very big terrorist plot. We have been following it for some time. There were a number of people who are suspected of it who have been arrested. That police operation was successful.
"We know that there are links between terrorists in Britain and terrorists in Pakistan. That is an important issue for us to follow through and that's why I will be talking to President Zardari about what Pakistan can do to help us in the future.
"I think we must not forget that the police have been successful in carrying out their arrests and, of course, what happens in the next few days is a matter for the police inquiries, but we had to act pre-emptively to ensure the safety of the public and the safety of the public is the paramount and utmost concern in all that we do."
Mr Quick tendered his resignation to Boris Johnson, the London mayor and chairman of the Metropolitan police authority, who announced it live on radio, to the surprise of Sir Paul Stephenson, the Commissioner, and Jacqui Smith, Home Secretary.
He also announced that John Yates, an Assistant Commissioner, will replace him - becoming the third anti-terrorism chief in three years as an embattled Scotland Yard continues to suffer from upheaval.
Mr Quick met with Jacqui Smith at the Home Office and was told that he had lost her support and that of the security services. The Home Secretary then met Sir Paul to discuss the matter.