Pressure on Sir Ian Blair, the Met police commissioner, over the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian killed at Stockwell Tube station, eased yesterday when the body that monitors the Met offered its whole-hearted support.

With the family of Mr de Menezes again demanding Sir Ian's resignation, Len Duvall, the Metropolitan Police Authority chairman, gave unquestioned support to the force and its commissioner, saying that at the time of the shooting, on July 22, London was on high alert and that calculated risks had to be taken.