Met chooses new anti-terror chief

John McDowall joined the Metropolitan Police in 1980

The man who launched the surveillance operation that led to Jean Charles de Menezes's death has been appointed to the UK's top counter-terrorist role.

Cdr John McDowall will take over from Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke as national co-ordinator of terrorist investigations.

He will also lead the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit SO15.

Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the £125,000-a-year job "was one of the most demanding posts in UK policing".

Sir Ian said the job was "hugely challenging", but Londoners should be "reassured" that Cdr McDowall had the knowledge and experience needed to do it.

Met Police Authority chair Len Duvall said Cdr McDowall was chosen for "his display of operation leadership".

Born in 1957, Cdr McDowall joined the Met in 1980. He has served as deputy to the national co-ordinator of terrorist investigations since January 2005.

He told the recent health and safety trial into Mr de Menezes death that he still thinks every day about what could have been done differently in that case.