Lord Ian Blair, the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, has died at the age of 72.
His death was confirmed by Christ Church, Oxford, where he was an alumnus and honorary fellow.
Lord Blair led the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008. Before that, he served as deputy commissioner from 2000 and spent two years as chief constable of Surrey Police.
In 2010, he was made a crossbench peer in the House of Lords, becoming Lord Blair of Boughton. He had earlier been knighted in 1999.
His time as commissioner was marked by a number of controversies, including the mistaken shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005.
Despite pressure from various quarters following that incident, he remained in the post for several years.
However, his career at the Met came to an abrupt end when Boris Johnson, the newly elected Conservative Mayor of London, removed him from his role after expressing a lack of confidence in his leadership.
Until then, Blair had retained the backing of senior officers, the Police Authority, and the Home Secretary.
Lord Blair was a respected figure in policing, known for his long career and high-profile role in some of the most difficult moments faced by the Met.