Former met officer Yates cleared of misconduct

John Yates, the former Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner who resigned over the hacking scandal, has been cleared of misconduct following allegations that he helped to secure a job for the daughter of a suspect.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission confirmed yesterday it had found no evidence of misconduct against Mr Yates in helping the daughter of Neil Wallis, the former News of the World executive editor, to get a job at Scotland Yard.

Mr Yates said yesterday he was "extremely pleased" at the outcome. "As I stated at the time of my resignation, I acted with complete integrity and my conscience is clear. It is a matter of great regret that these referrals forced my premature resignation," he said in a statement.

Mr Yates resigned the day after Sir Paul Stephenson quit as Commissioner over a decision by the force to award a public-relations contract to Mr Wallis, who had been arrested over the hacking inquiry. In August, Mr Yates, Sir Paul and two other officers were cleared of misconduct relating to the force's inquiry into phone hacking at the News of the World.