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14:33 GMT, Tuesday, 6 January 2009

No action over Tory row officer

Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick

Britain's counter-terrorism police chief and his wife will not face legal action following an investigation into a luxury car firm at their Surrey home.

Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick faced questions over the nature of the business, run by his wife Judith.

The allegations emerged during a row over the police handling of Kent Tory MP Damian Green's arrest in November.

Tandridge District Council investigated claims the company was not licensed for some of the services it offered.

The wedding car business, which served in Surrey, Kent, Sussex and London, also advertised chauffeur-driven outings in its Rolls Royces.

"The owners... have given assurances they are currently providing a car service for weddings only"
Richard Woodward
Tandridge District Council


To offer the outings the owners would be required to obtain a private hire vehicle and operator's licence and its drivers would also need to be licensed.

Richard Woodward, director of community services at the council, said the company has now stopped offering non-wedding services.

He said: "We have held discussions with the owners, who have given assurances they are currently providing a car service for weddings only."

Mr Quick, who is responsible for Scotland Yard's Specialist Operations branch, sparked a row after criticising an article in a national newspaper about his wife's business.

He accused the Conservative Party of trying to undermine a high-profile Whitehall leaks inquiry which involved the arrest of Tory Immigration Spokesman Mr Green.

The Metropolitan Police officer, who was in charge of the inquiry, said he was forced to move his family as a result of the publicity but later retracted his allegations and apologised.

It was claimed security concerns arose over the car hire firm's website as it included Mr Quick's home address. The website has since been changed.

No-one at the car hire firm was available to comment and the Metropolitan Police referred all inquiries to the company.




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Related to this story:
Police chief issues Tory apology (22 Dec 08 |  UK Politics )
Quick's comments 'out of character' (22 Dec 08 |  UK )
Cameron demands police retraction (22 Dec 08 |  UK Politics )
MP arrest officer accuses Tories (21 Dec 08 |  UK Politics )

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