Pubdate: Sun, 17 Mar 2002
Source: Independent  (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd
Contact:  http://www.independent.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/209
Author: Robert Mendick

THE GAY POLICE CHIEF, HIS EX-LOVER AND A NASTY CASE OF 'KISS AND TELL'

Smear Campaign: The Man Who Liberalised The Policing Of Cannabis Laws In 
Lambeth Now Faces The Wrath Of The Mail On Sunday

The vultures have been circling for some weeks now and they may have 
finally got their prey. Brian Paddick, arguably Britain's most high profile 
policeman, has attracted powerful enemies with a radical agenda-setting 
drugs policy. The fact that Mr Paddick, Metropolitan Police commander for 
the London borough of Lambeth, is openly gay, media savvy and willing to 
tackle such issues as the politics of anarchism has done little to placate 
them.

Last night, in an exclusive interview with The Independent on Sunday, he 
mounted a rigorous defence against the most vicious attack yet. Yesterday 
he was contacted by a tabloid Sunday newspaper and told of their intention 
to publish lurid sexual and drug-related allegations made by a former partner.

Mr Paddick, who pioneered a softly, softly approach on cannabis in Lambeth 
is now alleged to have smoked the drug. He is also being accused of 
engaging in explicit sexual activity. His former partner James Renolleau, a 
cashier who worked at Westminster Abbey, is making the allegations, which 
Mr Paddick denies. Mr Renolleau has now fled the country. In his first 
interview since the furore over remarks about anarchism made in an internet 
chatroom, Mr Paddick said he just wanted to be "left alone" to get on with 
his job.

Mr Paddick said he was being accused of having sex on the Gatwick Express; 
of having oral sex and masturbation in a gay sauna; of smoking cannabis 
with his partner in their flat; and of failing to tell his bosses he had 
met his lover when Mr Renolleau was on bail.

The commander, who has a new partner, said: "We were in what I thought was 
a caring and honest relationship for five years and I am absolutely 
devastated he should say such things about me. I had hoped we would become 
friends. But I have given up that hope now."

Mr Paddick said he first became aware of the allegations last week when Mr 
Renolleau telephoned him to say he had sold his story for UKP100,000. Mr 
Renolleau telephoned him again yesterday from abroad to confirm he had been 
paid "a large sum of money".

These are not the first smears made against Mr Paddick. He has been 
subjected to a series of false allegations and rumours, believed in part to 
be motivated by a combination of homophobia and professional jealousy.

He was on holiday in Australia when the chatroom remarks were made public 
and last week arrived back in his post to receive a "dressing down" from 
the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens. Mr Paddick kept his 
job, not least because he had not committed any disciplinary offences. He 
has told Sir John of the latest allegations and must wait to see whether he 
can still survive.

Mr Paddick said last night: "My ex-partner has been paid, he claims, 
UKP100,000. He has now left the country. He has provided The Mail on Sunday 
with a signed statement saying he had cannabis at the flat and we smoked 
cannabis on numerous occasions; that I had gone to gay saunas and engaged 
in oral sex and masturbation and once had sex on the Gatwick Express. Also 
that I met him when he was on bail to the police and I should have reported 
that to my senior officers. I completely deny the allegations about the 
sex. I never went to a gay sauna; I never had sex with somebody in the open 
air. As far as the smoking of cannabis, he smoked cannabis sometimes in the 
flat and I told him it would get me into trouble and he should not do it. 
But he did do it from time to time."

The pair were together for five years but the relationship ended 
acrimoniously about a year ago. Mr Renolleau first started smoking cannabis 
about two years into the relationship. The allegations of illicit sex, said 
Mr Paddick, date back more than six years, before the pair were going out 
and Mr Renolleau's account was, at best, second hand. "Even if I had done, 
I certainly never did when I was with him," said Mr Paddick, "He certainly 
cannot prove it. The sex [allegations] were supposed to be before I was in 
a relationship with him so that must be six or more years ago."

He refused to discuss the accusation that he knew Mr Renolleau was on 
police bail but failed to inform his superiors. Mr Paddick added: "The 
Commissioner was aware a week ago of these allegations.

"I just want to get on with my job which I think I am doing very well and 
the results we are achieving in Lambeth prove to me I am doing a good job.

"I just want to be left alone to get on with my job."

SIDEBAR: Brian Paddick: A Life

Born: Balham, south London, 1959.

Education: Grammar schools in Tooting, south London, and Sutton, Surrey. 
Queen's College, Oxford.

Marriage: to Mary Stone for five years, between the ages of 24 and 29. 
Ended childless.

Career: Joined Met as a police constable in Holloway; sergeant at 22; chief 
superintendent in charge of borough of Merton at 40.

December 2000: promoted to commander in charge of Lambeth.

July 2001: introduced softly-softly approach to cannabis possession.
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