"The Blair Years" : Their Own Victims

The latest casualty of "The Blair Years"*, former Metropolitan Police Commander Ali Dizaei, is yet another reminder of the culture of personal self-importance which has replaced professional competence in Britain's public services.

I met the photogenic Mr Dizaei on a couple of occasions when he worked for Thames Valley Police, where he struck me as an intelligent and likable man.

"Likable Rogue" was how he was described by a former police colleague this morning.

Public life has never been short of such people : Lord Archer is a prime example of one who rose to high office during the previous administration, before he was put in the "Clink" : a reversal of fortune which Mr Dizaei now shares.

My guess is that, as with Archer, this experience will provide an opportunity for new literary endeavours.

However, we must remind ourselves that other "likeable rogues" are now pursuing literary and self-publicising careers without being brought to public account, even if they have now turned to religion and tearful appearances on television shows.

*"The Blair Years" by Alastair Campbell was a recent Channel 4 Political Book of the Year. Mr Dizaei might consider a similar title for a book about his time at "The Met" under Sir Ian Blair.