Police, reporters and the security excuse that will not wash

The excuse deployed by the police to explain their failure thoroughly to investigate the News of the World hacking allegations is quite persuasive: national security was a priority, and this seemed like something of a sideshow.

During the first decade of 21st century, police officers found a new — and sometimes glamorous — role for themselves at the forefront of the battle against Islamic terrorism. Some politicians and journalists have always been impressed by rough, tough coppers. But these guys were on the front line of the war on terror. Dead impressive.

For much of this period I was Home Affairs Editor of the Observer and I often heard politicians tell me how impressed they were by Andy Hayman. He walked and talked like a real policeman (unlike that Oxbridge softy Ian Blair).

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Alexander Larman

Beware the middle of Lidl

What we all didn’t know at a time is that Hayman himself had always wanted to be a journalist and his wish was granted.