Sir John Stevens

How big a terrorist threat does London face?

In a HARDtalk interview, on 22 January, Jon Sopel talks to Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police about the responsibility of policing one of the worlds busiest cities.

Britain has not yet come under attack from Al Qaeda, but there are those at the head of this country's security services who believe it is a question of 'when' not 'if'.

it would be wrong of us not to take an approach where we are more or less looking at a certainty of attack Sir John Stevens

On the BBC's HARDtalk programme, Jon Sopel talked to Sir John Stevens, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and Britain's most senior policeman.

Jon Sopel asked him if he believed another terrorist attack is only a matter of time. "I think that's probably right", he replied. "I just hope to God we're all wrong. The bottom line is that the threat is there, I just hope the threat will not become reality, but it would be wrong of us not to take an approach where we are more or less looking at a certainty of attack."

Asked whether he has enough manpower to cope with the current state of alert he said, "We've had an increase of 650 to the anti-terrorism squad and we're looking for an increase of another 100 to that.

We think if we can get that, we've got enough for the present time."

When asked if his force would secure the extra manpower, he replied, "We must have it."

Princess Diana

Over the recently announced inquest into the death of Princess Diana, Sir John admitted that he hadn't seen the job coming.

As a police officer... you go where the evidence takes you Sir John Stevens

Jon Sopel asked him if he saw any truth in the conspiracy theories that her death might not have been just the result of a tragic accident.

He refused to drawn in to any conspiracy theories, replying, "As a police officer, you don't start of with any theories, you go where the evidence takes you. "

But would he go as far as questioning senior members of the Royal Family?

Jon Sopel asked , "And if that means talking to Prince Charles, so be it?" "Absolutely." Sir John replied.

HARDtalk can be seen on BBC World at 04:30 GMT, 11:30 GMT, 15:30 GMT, 19:30 GMT and 00:30 GMT

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30