The commander of Lambeth police was at the centre of a row after saying he was less interested in weekend users of drugs ecstasy and cocaine.

Commander Brian Paddick made the comments to the home affairs select committee last week, saying people who took small amounts of the drugs were low down my priority list. He told MPs sending officers into nightclubs to look for ecstasy would be wasting valuable police resources.

The comments were reported to have angered Met Police chiefs. Scotland Yard issued a statement saying: The Commissioner has reminded Commander Paddick that he is expected to follow and implement the Mets policy.

Commander Paddick said: I regret my comments have been reported out of the context in which they were given and I am absolutely committed to enforcing Met Polices drugs policy in Lambeth.