MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UK top cop quits over security blunder; G-20 policeman suspended

Quick dismissal for Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick

Britain's top counter-terrorism officer has resigned after his security blunder threatened a major anti-terror operation. London Mayor Boris Johnson said he had accepted Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick's resignation with “great reluctance and sadness”.

Meanwhile, searches are continuing at properties in Greater Manchester, Liverpool and Lancashire after 12 suspects were arrested in a bid to smash an alleged al Qaida terror plot.

Mr Quick's downfall came after he was pictured on Wednesday clutching sensitive documents as he arrived in Downing Street for a meeting with Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. The documents showed top secret details of a major anti-terror operation in north west England. And the blunder meant a police operation to arrest the suspects had to be brought forward 24 hours.

As police targeted the suspects - who sources said were allegedly linked to al Qaida - Mr Quick released an apology to Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson saying he “deeply regretted” leaving the document on show. Assistant Commissioner John Yates will replace Mr Quick as head of counter-terrorism.

Mr Brown defended the anti-terror operation and praised Mr Quick for his service to the force. Speaking during a tour in Carlisle, Mr Brown said: “Let me first thank all of the police forces that have been involved in the arrest of the suspected terrorists.

”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”, he said adding that ”I have spoken to Bob Quick and thanked him for his years of service. He has apologised for what went wrong. I have also spoken to Sir Paul Stephenson, the head of the Metropolitan Police, and said we expect this investigation to move forward”.

In related news a policeman caught on camera hitting newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson in London and shoving him to the ground during G20 protests has been suspended. The officer came forward to officials probing the death of the 47-year-old from an apparent heart attack during demonstrations near the Bank of England.

An amateur cameraman caught the territorial support group PC's actions on camera as thousands of protesters converged in the City last Wednesday.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which has taken over the investigation, called on the Metropolitan Police to suspend the officer and this request was enacted “with immediate effect”.

Critics accused the Met of issuing “misleading” statements after footage emerged of the officer striking Mr Tomlinson with his baton and violently pushing him to the ground. Mr Tomlinson's family demanded answers and a second post-mortem examination was ordered to find if any external factors contributed to his sudden death.

Officials are examining hours of CCTV, photographs and footage filmed by protesters to try to piece together Mr Tomlinson's last moments. Protesters calling for a public inquiry are expected to return to the spot where he died on Saturday to lay flowers after marching from Bethnal Green police station at noon.

A Met spokesman said: ”A Metropolitan Police territorial support group police constable has been suspended, effective immediately, in relation to the IPCC investigation into the death of Ian Tomlinson. Although the Metropolitan Police consulted with the IPCC, the decision was taken independently by the Metropolitan Police having considered all the circumstances”.