Tim Godwin had recently retired as Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service at the time of giving evidence. He joined Met in 1999 from Sussex Police, becoming Temporary Commissioner on two occasions and remaining in post until Bernard Hogan-Howe was appointed in 2011. Gave detailed testimony of meetings with politicians and the media and answered questions on the benefits and disadvantages of closer relations between the police and the media. He described some cooperation with media representatives but stated that he rarely accepted any form of hospitality and that every such event was recorded in his hospitality register.
