Dick Fedorcio, the Director of Public Affairs and Internal Communication for the Metropolitan Police Service, has been put on a period of extended gardening leave over the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s investigation into his links with the former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis.
Wallis, who was arrested in July over allegations of phone hacking at the now-closed newspaper, was hired by Fedorcio, 58, as a consultant PR. Last year Wallis was paid £24,000 by Scotland Yard for his services.
Giving evidence before the House of Commons home affairs select committee last month, Fedorcia said he had not asked Wallis whether he had been involved in the phone hacking scandal, leaving the checks over his appointment to John Yates, the former assistant commissioner.
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