Paddick 'smeared' by senior officers

Brian Paddick has been transferred away from Lambeth

An investigation has reportedly been ordered into claims that Metropolitan Police commander Brian Paddick is the victim of a smear campaign by senior colleagues.

The Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) launched the inquiry following allegations that another commander wrongly accused Mr Paddick of making personal use of a CID car, according to the Independent.

The newspaper says Mr Paddick made a formal complaint that the allegation against him had been repeated after he had been cleared by a Scotland Yard investigation.

An anonymous complainant, believed to be another officer, had accused him of using a car belonging to the CID at Wimbledon police division, where he was in charge, to commute 100 miles to a Hampshire police college during a six-month period, it says.

The 43-year-old has been temporarily transferred from his role as Lambeth commander while an investigation takes place into allegations about his private life.

Many of his supporters have said the openly gay officer is the victim of a homophobic campaign to oust him.

An anonymous complaint that Mr Paddick warned the management at central London gay club Shadow Lounge of a drugs raid was also unfounded, the Independent reports.