THE media must not allow the Dr Ian Oliver controversy to disappear until the senior politicians who intervened explain why they did so, Sir David English, chairman of Associated Newspapers, suggested yesterday, writes Graeme Smith.

Sir David was speaking after addressing the conference of senior police officers, hosted by Grampian Chief Constable Dr Oliver, and attended by 225 officers from around the world.

Dr Oliver, who retires next week was given a standing ovation at the end of the conference. He was also presented with a silver salver and a shield by association officials who praised the job he had done.

Addressing the officers, Sir David expressed fears about politicisation of the police force and urged them to build relationships of trust and co-operation with senior editors.

Following his speech, Sir David, chairman of the group which publishes the Daily Mail, said he believed it was a watershed when Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar urged Dr Oliver to ''pack his bags and go'' in the wake of the critical report into Grampian's handling of the inquiry into the disappearance of nine-year-old Scott Simpson, who was found murdered.

He went on: ''There was a watershed when a very senior politician called, in such terms as Dewar did, for a chief constable to go. I assume there will be more written about that in a more reflective way in time to come.

''It was very, very unusual for a politician to jump in and make that kind of statement and it was a first as far as I know.

''Therefore why did he do it? Did he know something the rest of us don't know? Why? I think this story, from a newspaper point of view, clearly can't be over. We need to know why a politician did a thing like that.''

South Yorkshire Chief Constable Richard Wells, a long-time friend of Dr Oliver's, said his concern was to avoid the situation where operational decisions were made in one way or another for fear of political involvement.

''From the politician's point of view I think we have to make sure they comment within knowledge, comment within their sphere of responsibility and when it comes to comments on direct operations they restrain themselves.''

Afterwards, Dr Oliver said the standing ovation and presentation given to him had been very welcome. ''It's always nice to get a pat on the back rather than all the kicks that have been happening recently,'' he said.

No one from the Home Office or the Scottish Office attended the conference.