Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to step down
Britain`s top officer has announced he is retiring from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
Sep 29, 2016
By Nick Hudson
Britain`s top officer has announced he is retiring from the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe`s decision to step down in February comes as new London Mayor Sadiq Khan reportedly hinted at wanting to choose his own Commissioner.
Sir Bernard has spent his five years at the helm of the MPS, focused on making London the safest global city on Earth.
Today he paid tribute to the “remarkable” 32,000 officers under his command before wishing his successor “well” in the “amazing” task of looking after Britain`s biggest force.
His reign has stretched from leading to the response to the London riots, through the successful security operation of the 2012 London Olympics to maintaining the establishment of frontline officers in a period of acute budgetary restraint.
Speaking on his pending retirement, Sir Bernard, 58, said: “I am so proud of the remarkable men and women who serve Londoners as police officers and staff and make this such a safe place for people to live, work or visit.
“I want to thank all of them for what they do, and the risks they take each day to protect the public.
“I want to thank all the partners we work with in government, in City Hall and across London. And I want to thank the public for the support they show the Met, and have shown me personally, as we do our difficult jobs.
“I came into this job determined to fight crime and make the MPS the best, most professional police service. I wish my successor well as they take on this amazing responsibility.
“It has been a great privilege to be the Met`s Commissioner. I have loved my time in the role and I have loved being a police officer.
“It`s the most rewarding of jobs to protect good people and lock up the bad guys.”
Throughout his period as Commissioner, London has faced an evolving threat from international terrorism. Conflicts in Syria and Iraq have created fears of a new generation of people being radicalised, intent on bringing violence to Western cities.
The murder of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013 made that threat a reality. His attackers were stopped by firearms officers from the MPS and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Following the attacks in Paris last year, Sir Bernard ordered a significant increase in the number of firearms officers in London and stepped up the number of armed patrols in the capital.
Public confidence in the MPS has risen during his time as Commissioner.
His promise of Total Victim Care, a key pillar of his Total Policing philosophy, has seen a marked increase in satisfaction with the force`s service.
Like police forces across England and Wales, Sir Bernard`s period in office has been marked by acute financial challenges.
The MPS has already saved more than £600 million and sold its historic headquarters at New Scotland Yard for £370 million. It will move its HQ to a refurbished police building in a few months.
Sir Bernard has kept 32,000 police officers in London the only force to maintain frontline officer numbers and has constantly pushed the MPS to increase the number of officers from minority backgrounds, which now stands at the highest level ever.
He oversaw a dramatic reduction in the number of stop and searches carried out and made clear that the MPS would get rid of racist officers.
Sheffield-born Sir Bernard joined the service at South Yorkshire Police in 1979, rising to District Commander of the Doncaster West area, as well as obtaining in law and criminology at Mer