Key facts

London police chief Paul Stephenson

Stephenson, 57, was forced to abandon his official duties in January this year after suffering complications following operations to remove a pre-cancerous growth from his leg. He returned to work in April, one month earlier than expected.

He ordered a review of the News Corp phone-hacking investigation in July 2009 after extensive media coverage. But after just eight hours consideration, the decision was taken by the officer he appointed, John Yates, that there was no new evidence that warranted the inquiry to be reopened.