The Independent Police Complaints Commission, (IPCC) has appointed Bill Taylor, formerly Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland, to investigate how the watchdog's preliminary papers found their way into the media.

Sensitive details about the case were leaked to ITV on 16 August, including that Mr de Menezes had not been wearing a padded jacket and had not been running when gunned down by police, contradicting earlier claims which appeared to justify the police mistaking him for a suicide bomber.

Yesterday the IPCC said that Mr Taylor would review the existing IPCC inquiry into the leak and decide what action was necessary against any individuals involved "as soon as possible".

The announcement followed the publication of letters earlier yesterday from the Police Federation and Metropolitan Police Federation to the Home Secretary calling for an independent inquiry into the leaks.

Alan Gordon, vice chairman of the Police Federation, called into question the IPCC's ability to conduct investigations in a "professional and independent manner".

In a separate move, a campaign group was set up yesterday to challenge the government's hardline anti-terror measures. Members, including Ken Livingstone, London mayor, and Alex Salmond, SNP leader, warned that the sweeping measures would marginalise ethnic minorities who had condemned the 7/7 attacks.