Former Met Commissioner Lord Ian Blair dies
He was in charge of the force from 2005 - 2008
Lord Ian Blair - a former commissioner of the Metropolitan Police - has died at the age of 72.
Lord Blair led the force for three years between 2005 and 2008 - and was in charge during the Metropolitan Police's response to the 7/7 bombings in London in 2005.
The news has come from Christ Church, Oxford - where Lord Blair was a former student.
In a statement on Friday, Christ Church Oxford said: "The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, the Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72.
"Lord Blair, an alumnus and honorary student (fellow) of Christ Church, served as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008."
The often controversial senior police officer saw his career cut short when he was axed from Scotland Yard by Tory mayor Boris Johnson.
Until that point, he had held on to the job despite the furore caused by death of Jean Charles de Menezes, whom police shot at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after mistaking him for a suicide bomber.
He clung on through a series of further hurdles with the support of the Home Secretary, the Police Authority and most of all, his senior officers.
But when the new mayor took charge of the Police Authority and told him privately that he had no confidence in his work, he walked out.
Lord Blair was chief constable of Surrey Police for two years before becoming deputy commissioner of the Met in 2000, taking over the top job five years later.