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Met police commissioner given one-year contract extension Met police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe given contract extension
(about 7 hours later)
The home secretary has given Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe a one-year extension to his contract as commissioner of the Metropolitan police.The home secretary has given Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe a one-year extension to his contract as commissioner of the Metropolitan police.
Critics had wanted him ousted over his refusal to apologise for his force’s handling of investigations into prominent people accused of historical sexual abuse.Critics had wanted him ousted over his refusal to apologise for his force’s handling of investigations into prominent people accused of historical sexual abuse.
Hogan-Howe’s five-year term was due to end this September. The home secretary, Theresa May, made the announcement with a written statement, hailing Hogan-Howe’s time in office fighting crime and reforming the Met.
The home secretary, Theresa May, made the announcement via a written statement, hailing Hogan-Howe’s time in office fighting crime and reforming the Met. Hogan-Howe faced a barrage of criticism over the handling of abuse claims, and the past week has seen his trickiest time in office. He said the extension was a vote of confidence.
Hogan-Howe faced a barrage of criticism over the handling of abuse claims, and the past week has seen his trickiest time in office. Though technically the extension was granted by the Queen, the decision was made by the home secretary after considering the views of the mayor of London. Boris Johnson recommended a one-year extension to Hogan-Howe’s existing five-year deal which was due to end in September.
Technically, the extension was agreed by the Queen. One factor was there was no obvious candidate to succeed Hogan-Howe.
May said: “My recommendation recognises the vital work the commissioner has done in fighting crime and in reforming the Metropolitan police service. He has been at the forefront of the vital and important challenge of policing London at a time of heightened security.”May said: “My recommendation recognises the vital work the commissioner has done in fighting crime and in reforming the Metropolitan police service. He has been at the forefront of the vital and important challenge of policing London at a time of heightened security.”
Hogan-Howe wanted longer but ministers did not want to impose a Met commissioner on the new mayor of London, who will be elected this May. Hogan-Howe wanted longer but ministers did not want to impose a commissioner on the new mayor of London, who will be elected this May.
The home secretary added: “This extension to 25 September 2017 provides continuity for the Metropolitan police service during a change of political leadership in London, and will give the new mayor of London the opportunity to take an informed view about any recommendation they may wish to make about the longer-term leadership of the organisation, after they take office in May 2016.”The home secretary added: “This extension to 25 September 2017 provides continuity for the Metropolitan police service during a change of political leadership in London, and will give the new mayor of London the opportunity to take an informed view about any recommendation they may wish to make about the longer-term leadership of the organisation, after they take office in May 2016.”
Hogan-Howe said: “I am proud to continue as commissioner of the Metropolitan police and proud of the confidence shown in the way my officers and staff work day and night to keep London safe and catch criminals.”Hogan-Howe said: “I am proud to continue as commissioner of the Metropolitan police and proud of the confidence shown in the way my officers and staff work day and night to keep London safe and catch criminals.”
If Hogan-Howe completes his five-year term, he will be the first Met commissioner since the then Sir John Stevens to to reach that milestone without being forced out of office. Stevens ran the Met from 2000 to 2005. He was followed by Sir Ian Blair and Sir Paul Stephenson, both of whom resigned amid controversy.
Hogan-Howe was not the choice of two selection panels in 2011, which chose Sir Hugh Orde, then the leader of a chief constables’ group who criticised government police changes, and branded one of the prime minister’s ideas “stupid”.
However, May did not want to give the Met’s top job, with all the publicity it attracts, to a vocal critic. Hogan-Howe’s term so far has seen a net fall in crime while the force’s budget has been cut.
He now has until September 2017 to continue his reorganisation of the Met, with May considering starting a review that could result in Scotland Yard’s lead on counter-terrorism transferred to the National Crime Agency.