Police Career
Johnston joined the Metropolitan Police in 1965 and served as Staff Officer to former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Peter Imbert. In 1982, he graduated from London School of Economics with a first in Social Administration.
Having completed the Senior Command Course at Bramshill, Johnston moved to Kent Constabulary in 1989, where he served as Assistant Chief Constable in charge of first Administration and Supply, and then Operations, before moving back to the Metropolitan Police in 1992 as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner.
In 1994 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the South East London area, but in 1999 moved to Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Territorial Policing in 2000.
In September 2009 Sir Ian retired from the British Transport Police and was succeeded by Andrew Trotter OBE QPM
Johnston came to media attention having given evidence before the enquiry and following the publication of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, Johnston apologised to the Lawrence family for institutionalised racism; but controversially argued that race can legitimately be used by police as a basis for stop and search. Johnston reiterated this argument in the aftermath of the London Tube bombings in 2005. Johnston had been mooted as being the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police after the retirement of Sir John Stevens in 2005. Sir John had described Johnston as a "substantial figure" at the Met, and noted that following his departure for British Transport Police Johnston was missed. The role of Commissioner was to be given to Sir Ian Blair.
Read more about this topic: Ian Johnston (police Officer)
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