Four make shortlist to head Met

Sir Paul Stephenson is in temporary charge

Four candidates have been shortlisted for the job of Metropolitan Police Commissioner, it is understood.

They are Sir Paul Stephenson, acting Commissioner, Sir Hugh Orde, Northern Ireland's police chief and Sir Paul Scott-Lee, from the West Midlands.

The fourth is believed to be Bernard Hogan-Howe, Merseyside's police chief, according to the BBC's home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw.

The post became vacant following the resignation of Sir Ian Blair.

He said he stood down due to political interference from the Mayor of London.

Sir Paul Stephenson has taken temporary charge of the force while the vetting process, expected to take several months, is under way.

He was favourite for the job, but has faced criticism over the arrest of Tory immigration spokesman Damien Green.

Mr Hogan-Howe has received plaudits for his work cracking down on knife and gun crime on Merseyside.

Sir Hugh Orde can claim experience of terrorism as head of the Police Service of Northern Ireland since 2002.

Sir Paul Scott-Lee is a relative unknown. He worked in the Kent and Suffolk forces before becoming West Midlands chief constable in 2002.