London, Sep 29, 2016 – Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe will retire after five years as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
He will however stay in his post until February 2017 to allow the Home Secretary and the Mayor of London to appoint a successor.
Sir Bernard was appointed to the role on 12 September, 2011. His first significant challenge was to lead the response to the London riots, convicting the criminals responsible, and making sure his officers were properly prepared so they could be mobilised at speed to avoid losing control of the streets.
Under Sir Bernard, the Met ran a successful security operation to ensure the 2012 London Olympics passed off safely. He made a public commitment to reduce crime, which has fallen by around 18 per cent during his time as Commissioner.
The Commissioner has focused the Metropolitan Police on making London the safest global city, reducing knife and gun crime through a determined war on gangs.
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 Met and later convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
Following the attacks in Paris last year, the Commissioner 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 Met 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 Met’s service.
Like police forces across England and Wales, the Commissioner’s period in office has been marked by acute financial challenges. The MPS has already saved more than £600million and sold its historic headquarters at New Scotland Yard for £370million. It will move its HQ and the famous spinning sign 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 Met to increase the number of officers from minorities, 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 Met would get rid of racist officers.
Speaking today, Sir Bernard 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.”
