Paddick talks back

Brian Paddick meets the BBC's Tim Sebastian

In a HARDtalk interview on 12 December, Brian Paddick, Controversial Police Chief, met Tim Sebastian.

Commander Brian Paddick is Britain's highest-ranking openly gay police officer.

Click here to watch the full interview

He caused a political storm when he pioneered a soft approach to cannabis possession in Lambeth, an area of London notorious for drug related crime.

He was moved from his high profile post after his former lover made damaging allegations to a British newspaper.

Brian Paddick was accused of being a cannabis user and allowing the drug to be smoked in his home.

Despite this, he remains popular among the residents of Lambeth who have been campaigning for his reinstatement.

He talks to Tim Sebastian.

This interview can be watched in full on Thursday 12 December on BBC World and BBC News 24 at the following times:

BBC News 24 (times shown in GMT) 0430, repeated 2230

BBC World (times shown in GMT) 0330, repeated 1130, 1530, 1830, 2330