Bizarre

Met chief apologises for taping phone call

The attorney general today accepted an apology from Britain's top police officer, Sir Ian Blair, for secretly recording one of their private telephone conversations.

A statement from the attorney general's office said Lord Goldsmith - who was last night said to be "incredibly cross and very disappointed" - had heard Sir Ian's explanation and now regarded the matter as closed.

A later statement from Scotland Yard said Sir Ian used a tape recorder because "he thought that they would be discussing a complex issue and as he was without a note-taker it would be helpful to have a record".

We would not want to think Sir Ian Blair was paranoid or anything!