Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned following the phone hacking scandal.
Britain's most senior police officer has faced criticism for hiring former News of the World executive Neil Wallis - who was questioned by police investigating hacking - as an adviser.Sir Paul said his links to the journalist could hamper investigations.
He said there were lessons to be learned from the affair, but he was leaving with his integrity intact.
He also said he had no knowledge of the extent of the phone hacking.
Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "sorry" he had resigned and thanked him for his work.
Earlier, she said she would address MPs on Monday about her "concerns" over the closeness of the relationship between News International and police.
'Great sadness' Sir Paul said in a statement: "I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met's links with News International at a senior level and in particular in relation to Mr Neil Wallis."
He added: "Let me state clearly, I and the people who know me know that my integrity is completely intact.
"I may wish we had done some things differently, but I will not lose sleep over my personal integrity."
Sir Paul has also faced questions over his stay with his wife at a luxury health spa which employed Mr Wallis.
The journalist was working as a public relations consultant for Champneys spa when Sir Paul recuperated from surgery there earlier this year.
The Met acknowledged Sir Paul had stayed there for free while he recovered from a fractured leg caused by an operation to remove a pre-cancerous tumour.
Sir Paul said he had informed Buckingham Palace, Ms May and London Mayor Boris Johnson about his decision.
Mr Johnson said he accepted the resignation with "great sadness and reluctance" and he had no reason to doubt his "complete integrity".
"I believe him to be a fine, passionate and committed public servant who has done a huge amount of good for our city," he said.
'Brave decision' The chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee - Keith Vaz - said he was "genuinely shocked" by the announcement.
"He was very keen that people realised that his integrity was intact, and I think what he basically said was, he was concerned about the leadership of the Met at this time," he said.
"It is a very brave decision, and I'm shocked by it, actually, because I don't think there's anything in the statement in particular that points to any wrongdoing or inappropriateness on the part of the commissioner."
Earlier on Sunday the former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was arrested by police investigating phone hacking and corruption.
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