Police chiefs descend into confusion over Wallis employment decision
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
Police chiefs have given confusing and contradictory evidence to MPs over the decision to hire Neil Wallis.
The Met's director of public affairs, Dick Fedorcio, said he asked assistant commissioner John Yates to conduct due diligence on Mr Wallis' employment despite knowing they were personal friends.
Asked if he thought that was appropriate, he answered: "I had no reason to doubt Mr Yates' integrity.
"I think with hindsight lots of things would have been done differently."
Asked about the comments during a later evidence session, Mr Yates said: "I think that's slightly over-egging the pudding, to put it mildly.
"It wasn't considered due diligence in the due diligence sense. I sought assurances from Mr Wallis – 'is there anything in the matters that Nick Davies [the Guardian journalist following phone-hacking since 2009] is chasing that could embarrass you, me or the Metropolitan police commissioner?'.
"That's not due diligence. I had nothing to do with that," he continued.
"I absolutely know the letting of contracts is an extremely sensitive issue and I wouldn't go anywhere near it in a million years."
