David Cameron: Met made good progress under Sir Paul

David Cameron, prime minister, praises Sir Paul Stephenson's role as Metropolitan police commissioner but urges that the phone-hacking investigation now proceeds quickly:

"Sir Paul Stephenson has had a long and distinguished career in the police, and I would like to thank him for his service over many, many years. Under his leadership the Metropolitan police made good progress in fighting crime, continued its vital work in combating terrorism, and scored notable successes such as the policing of the royal wedding.

"While I know that today must be a very sad occasion for him, I respect and understand his decision to leave the Met, and I wish him well for the future.

"What matters most of all now is that the Metropolitan police and the Metropolitan Police Authority do everything possible to ensure the investigations into phone-hacking and alleged police corruption proceed with all speed, with full public confidence and with all the necessary leadership and resources to bring them to an effective conclusion."