History of the Metropolitan Police Service been headed by a Commissioner, rather than a Chief Constable which is the highest rank in police forces outside London. The first Commissioners to hold the post were Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Rowan and Sir Richard Mayne. When Sir Charles Rowan died, leaving Sir Richard Mayne as the surviving Commissioner, Captain William Hay was drafted in to jointly run the force with Mayne. However, because the two Commissioners did not agree on methods of running the force, since 1855 it was decided that only one Commissioner would run the force. Metropolitan Police patrols took to the streets on 29 September 1829,
Metropolitan Police role in the news media phone hacking scandal was soon hired to write a column for "The Times of London", another publication of News International. Home Secretary Theresa May, expressed concerns over the closeness of the relationship between News International and the police. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg expressed concerns about growing public perception of police corruption. Labor MP Paul Farrelly said the meetings demonstrated "unhealthy ties with the Murdoch organisation." The report of the Home Affairs Select Committee noted a "level of social interaction which took place between senior Metropolitan Police Officers and executives at News International while investigations were or should have been being undertaken into