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Page last updated at 08:57 GMT, Wednesday, 4 November 2009

Sir Ian Blair: 'British policing is too expensive'

The Commissioner of the Metropolitan police has a budget of £3 billion, a staff of 53,000 and has to keep both the politicians and the public happy. Sir Ian Blair says it is an almost impossible task.

He was in the post until a year ago when he was forced out by the Mayor of London. He's now warning about the politicisation of policing in Britain and is calling for a national inquiry into the future of the force.

He says whereas political parties want more police officers, he believes we need fewer officers and a 're-working of the workforce'.

Watch the full interview with Sir Ian Blair on HARDtalk on Thursday 5 November 2009.

BBC World News: 0430, 0930, 1430, 1830, 2130 GMT.

BBC News Channel: 2330 GMT and Friday 6 November at 0430 GMT.

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