The phone hacking scandal shows that our system of police governance is in urgent need of root and branch review

Commentators are describing the current controversies as the biggest crisis at Scotland Yard for decades. They are probably right. Two senior officers have already paid the price. Others look vulnerable and this crisis has some way to run yet. Tim Newburn argues that there is an absence of a clear and coherent system of police accountability, and that police governance is in urgent need of reform.