Mayors have not played politics with policing, says retiring Met Commissioner
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who announced his retirement unexpectedly, claims no politician has acted in a partisan mannerThe outgoing Met Police Commissioner said mixing politics and policing was a “really silly idea”, as he answered questions about his retirement from the force.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, who has announced he is retiring seven months before the end of his recently extended contract, dismissed speculation his relationship with the new Mayor of London caused his departure.
London Assembly member Steve O’Connell claimed: “It has been clear for some time that Sadiq Khan would push out Sir Bernard, not because he has a better option lined up or because Sir Bernard had failed at his job, but because Khan believes that doing so would make him look strong.”
At a meeting last week Deputy Mayor Sophie Linden said such claims were “absolutely preposterous” and praised the commissioner.
Asked on LBC Radio if the new mayor was the reason why he left, Sir Bernard replied: “Not at all. I’ve a really good, close relationship with the mayor and the deputy mayor, Sophie Linden.
“I had a great relationship with Boris Johnson and his deputy Stephen [Greenhalgh] too.
He added: “Nobody wants to play politics with police, it’s a really silly idea to do that, and I’ve never found it.”
Sir Bernard denied to the Press Association that the timing of his decision was anything to do with the forthcoming publication of a report into Operation Midland, the investigation into claims that public figures sexually abused boys more than 30 years ago.
The 16-month probe was closed in March without a single arrest and Sir Bernard called in former High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques to examine its handling.
On LBC the former Merseyside chief constable and HMI said he simply felt the time was right to leave, although he hinted he was not confident there would be no further cuts to police budgets, despite last year's government pledge.
He said: “There are big changes coming partly because we’re going to have less money, partly as we get new ideas.”
Sir Bernard expressed regret at the number of police staff jobs that were cut under his leadership but said it was the right thing to do and he was proud to have kept officer numbers up.
He added: “For all the things I went through, I’m really proud of my people.”
Sir Bernard, who will leave as the longest serving commissioner since Sir Paul Condon’s seven-year stint ended in 2000, began at the Met in 2011 just after that year’s riots and the phone hacking scandal, with the London Olympics looming.
Among the things he has attempted to change is to bring more ethnic minority officers in to the force at all ranks. He banned the recruitment of officers who live outside the capital, and those who do not speak a second language. His repeated calls for a 50:50 recruitment quota for white and non-white recruits were rebuffed by government, however.
Credited by an academic as being the individual responsible for making direct entry work in British policing, he has on the other hand opposed other reforms such as turning policing into a degree-based profession and special constables being able to hold regular rank.
Some have suggested that strong-willed Sir Bernard wanted to leave now to ensure his departure was on his own terms.
Met Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh told PoliceOracle.com: “I can’t fault him much. He maintained officer numbers unlike forces in the rest of the country, and on terrorism he recognised the need for an armed officer uplift.
“He always listened to the federation since I’ve been the chairman, although he didn’t always agree.
“It’s an incredibly hard job to be commissioner, being responsible for nine million people and if it does go wrong it falls on your shoulders," he added.
Those who are speculated to be candidates to succeed him include NPCC chairman Sara Thornton, Foreign Office official and former Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, and current Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley.
Former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton retired from that post for a second time just two weeks ago. He was sounded out for the position prior to Sir Bernard’s appointment.
News Archive
- December 2023 (3)
- November 2023 (5)
- October 2023 (4)
- September 2023 (5)
- August 2023 (4)
- July 2023 (3)
- June 2023 (5)
- May 2023 (2)
- April 2023 (5)
- March 2023 (3)
- February 2023 (7)
- January 2023 (11)
- December 2022 (6)
- November 2022 (5)
- October 2022 (5)
- September 2022 (6)
- August 2022 (2)
- July 2022 (11)
- June 2022 (8)
- May 2022 (11)
- April 2022 (8)
- March 2022 (3)
- February 2022 (5)
- January 2022 (12)
- December 2021 (1)
- November 2021 (9)
- October 2021 (4)
- September 2021 (10)
- August 2021 (9)
- July 2021 (12)
- June 2021 (4)
- May 2021 (11)
- April 2021 (14)
- March 2021 (14)
- February 2021 (19)
- January 2021 (18)
- December 2020 (6)
- November 2020 (12)
- October 2020 (14)
- September 2020 (15)
- August 2020 (16)
- July 2020 (16)
- June 2020 (18)
- May 2020 (22)
- April 2020 (18)
- March 2020 (23)
- February 2020 (20)
- January 2020 (4)
- December 2019 (5)
- November 2019 (6)
- October 2019 (5)
- September 2019 (6)
- August 2019 (8)
- July 2019 (6)
- June 2019 (8)
- May 2019 (8)
- April 2019 (8)
- March 2019 (10)
- February 2019 (9)
- January 2019 (9)
- December 2018 (9)
- November 2018 (12)
- October 2018 (8)
- September 2018 (7)
- August 2018 (11)
- July 2018 (7)
- June 2018 (9)
- May 2018 (9)
- April 2018 (12)
- March 2018 (10)
- February 2018 (8)
- January 2018 (5)
- December 2017 (6)
- November 2017 (4)
- October 2017 (3)
- September 2017 (10)
- August 2017 (5)
- July 2017 (5)
- June 2017 (6)
- May 2017 (6)
- April 2017 (2)
- March 2017 (3)
- February 2017 (4)
- January 2017 (1)
- December 2016 (3)
- November 2016 (4)
- October 2016 (1)
- September 2016 (4)
- August 2016 (4)
- July 2016 (1)
- June 2016 (5)
- May 2016 (3)
- April 2016 (1)
- March 2016 (3)
- February 2016 (3)
- January 2016 (3)
- December 2015 (3)
- November 2015 (3)
- October 2015 (3)
- September 2015 (2)
- August 2015 (1)
- July 2015 (11)
- June 2015 (1)