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| Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to retire | Met commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to retire |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is to retire after five years as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the force has announced. | Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is to retire after five years as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, the force has announced. |
| Sir Bernard, who was appointed to the role in September 2011, will remain in post until February to allow for his successor to be appointed. | Sir Bernard, who was appointed to the role in September 2011, will remain in post until February to allow for his successor to be appointed. |
| During his time in charge, the 58 year old oversaw policing of the London riots and the Olympic Games. | During his time in charge, the 58 year old oversaw policing of the London riots and the Olympic Games. |
| Sir Bernard said he believed it was "the right time to move on". | Sir Bernard said he believed it was "the right time to move on". |
| He said he had "loved my time in the role" but it was "a good chance to make this change now" after the appointments of a new London mayor and home secretary. | He said he had "loved my time in the role" but it was "a good chance to make this change now" after the appointments of a new London mayor and home secretary. |
| "It also allows a decent amount of time to select my successor," he said. | "It also allows a decent amount of time to select my successor," he said. |
| Prime Minister Theresa May, who was home secretary for the majority of Sir Bernard's time as commissioner, praised his "total policing" approach saying he "has done an excellent job... at what has been a difficult time given the level of terrorist threat". | Prime Minister Theresa May, who was home secretary for the majority of Sir Bernard's time as commissioner, praised his "total policing" approach saying he "has done an excellent job... at what has been a difficult time given the level of terrorist threat". |
| According to the Met, crime has fallen by around 18% during the time Sir Bernard has been in post. | According to the Met, crime has fallen by around 18% during the time Sir Bernard has been in post. |
| He led the police response after the London riots in 2011 and the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013. | He led the police response after the London riots in 2011 and the murder of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013. |
| However, he has also faced controversy including questions about the Met's handling of Operation Midland, its inquiry into allegations of historical abuse involving high profile public figures. | However, he has also faced controversy including questions about the Met's handling of Operation Midland, its inquiry into allegations of historical abuse involving high profile public figures. |
| A 16-month investigation was launched after claims boys were sexually abused more than 30 years ago, but it closed in March without a single arrest. | A 16-month investigation was launched after claims boys were sexually abused more than 30 years ago, but it closed in March without a single arrest. |
| Analysis: Danny Shaw, Home Affairs correspondent | Analysis: Danny Shaw, Home Affairs correspondent |
| The timing of Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's retirement is odd. | The timing of Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's retirement is odd. |
| He initially wanted a three-year extension to his five-year contract which expires this month. In January it was announced that it would be given a one-year extension, to September 2017. | He initially wanted a three-year extension to his five-year contract which expires this month. In January it was announced that it would be given a one-year extension, to September 2017. |
| There have been unconfirmed reports of tensions between Sir Bernard and London's new mayor, Sadiq Khan. | There have been unconfirmed reports of tensions between Sir Bernard and London's new mayor, Sadiq Khan. |
| Last week, Sir Bernard and the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Sophie Linden, faced repeated questioning at City Hall as to whether the mayor had confidence in the commissioner. | Last week, Sir Bernard and the Deputy Mayor for Policing, Sophie Linden, faced repeated questioning at City Hall as to whether the mayor had confidence in the commissioner. |
| It is possible that Sir Bernard was made aware that a new commissioner would be sought in September and Sir Bernard decided to go early, rather than be forced out. | It is possible that Sir Bernard was made aware that a new commissioner would be sought in September and Sir Bernard decided to go early, rather than be forced out. |
| There's also speculation his resignation is linked to a review into the Met's handling of Operation Midland, the inquiry into allegations of a paedophile ring at Westminster. | There's also speculation his resignation is linked to a review into the Met's handling of Operation Midland, the inquiry into allegations of a paedophile ring at Westminster. |
| Sir Bernard has a meeting pencilled in with Sir Richard Henriques, who is leading the review, next Thursday. The Met will not say if it has received the report or been told of its findings yet. | Sir Bernard has a meeting pencilled in with Sir Richard Henriques, who is leading the review, next Thursday. The Met will not say if it has received the report or been told of its findings yet. |
| The other possibility - hinted at in an interview on LBC [radio station] this morning - is that Sir Bernard has another job or opportunity that he wanted to take up sooner rather than later. | The other possibility - hinted at in an interview on LBC [radio station] this morning - is that Sir Bernard has another job or opportunity that he wanted to take up sooner rather than later. |
| Sir Bernard took charge of the UK's biggest police force when his predecessor Sir Paul Stephenson quit amid criticism of the Met's role in the phone-hacking scandal. | Sir Bernard took charge of the UK's biggest police force when his predecessor Sir Paul Stephenson quit amid criticism of the Met's role in the phone-hacking scandal. |
| As commissioner the Sheffield-born former traffic officer led nearly 50,000 staff including 32,000 officers. | As commissioner the Sheffield-born former traffic officer led nearly 50,000 staff including 32,000 officers. |
| He was awarded a knighthood in the 2013 New Year Honours list. | He was awarded a knighthood in the 2013 New Year Honours list. |
| Sir Bernard had been expected to remain in the role until at least September next year after Mrs May recommended the Queen approve a 12-month extension to his contract which was due to expire this month. | Sir Bernard had been expected to remain in the role until at least September next year after Mrs May recommended the Queen approve a 12-month extension to his contract which was due to expire this month. |
| Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked the commissioner "for his years of service" and denied reports he had helped oust the country's most senior police officer. | Mayor of London Sadiq Khan thanked the commissioner "for his years of service" and denied reports he had helped oust the country's most senior police officer. |
| "It isn't to do with me, it's to do with Bernard deciding to retire," he said | "It isn't to do with me, it's to do with Bernard deciding to retire," he said |
| Sir Bernard also said the pair have "an excellent relationship". | Sir Bernard also said the pair have "an excellent relationship". |
| Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who will begin the search for Sir Bernard's successor with Mr Khan, called the commissioner a "determined crime fighter and an inspirational senior officer". | Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who will begin the search for Sir Bernard's successor with Mr Khan, called the commissioner a "determined crime fighter and an inspirational senior officer". |
| Key appointments | Key appointments |
| Commissioner contenders | |
| Four people have emerged as possible successors to Sir Bernard: | |
| Lynne Owens, the current director general of the National Crime Agency, is a former assistant chief constable of the Met Police. | |
| Ms Owens joined the force in 1989 and served initially as a constable in Catford before moving to Kent Police and rising to senior investigating office in its major crime unit. | |
| She eventually became assistant chief constable of Surrey Police and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 2008. | |
| She was made temporary deputy chief constable before moving back to the Met as a deputy assistant commissioner in 2009. | |
| Ms Owens was promoted to assistant commissioner the following year. | |
| In 2012, Ms Owens became chief constable of Surrey Police and was appointed a CBE in 2015. | |
| Sara Thornton is the current chair of the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) | |
| She has been in the role since April 2015 after the organisation replaced the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo). | |
| Ms Thornton joined the Met in 1986 and undertook operational postings in West London and strategic roles in New Scotland Yard over the next 15 years. | |
| She then served as chief constable of Thames Valley Police for nearly eight years. | |
| In 2006, Ms Thornton was awarded the Queen's Police Medal and in the 2011 New Year's Honours she was awarded a CBE. | |
| Cressida Dick is currently director-general at the Foreign Office. | |
| She was the country's most senior female police officer when she became the Met's first female assistant commissioner in 2009. | |
| She left the Met for the Foreign Office after 31 years in December 2014 and received a CBE the same month. | |
| Her appointment might be a controversial one however as she was when she was in charge of the operation that led to the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was wrongly identified as an attempted suicide bomber in the wake of the 7/7 attacks on London. A jury cleared her of any blame in his death. | |
| She was also the national lead for police counter terrorism for three years, including during the Olympics. | |
| Mark Rowley is the assistant commissioner in specialist operations at the Met and the national policing lead for counter-terrorism. | |
| He was previously chief constable of Surrey Police and has served in the police for close to 30 years. | |
| Mr Rowley was awarded a Queen's Police Medal in December 2010, which is awarded to officers for distinguished service. | |
| Among the crises he has had to deal with are the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan and the fleeing of three London schoolgirls to Syria to join Islamic State. |