Former Met Police Commissioner Lord Blair of Broughton has died aged 72.
He led the force from 2005 to 2008 during one of its most controversial periods, marked by the 7/7 bombings, the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, and mounting political and internal pressure which ultimately forced him out.
Known for his liberal outlook and dubbed “the PC Pc,” Lord Blair pushed for greater diversity and modernisation within the Met. But critics accused him of politicising policing, showing poor judgment, and prioritising image over operational effectiveness.
His tenure ended in unprecedented fashion when then-Mayor Boris Johnson effectively dismissed him, a move which exposed deep tensions between City Hall and Scotland Yard.
Before becoming Commissioner, he was a fast-tracked officer who studied English at Oxford and built a reputation as a high-flyer, playing a key role in the investigation into the 1987 King’s Cross fire. Though he entered the role with ambitions to reshape British policing, his time at the top was overshadowed by missteps, strained relationships, and eroding confidence from within his own ranks.
