The highest ever ranking black woman officer in England and Wales has announced her retirement.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Patricia Gallan is to leave  after 31 years of service.

She joined the Met in 1987, leaving for periods in the National Crime Squad and Merseyside Police before returning to the UK’s largest force in 2012, leading the directorate of professional standards and then specialist operations.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Pat has given extraordinary service to policing and can rightly be proud of what she has achieved and the contribution she has made.

“Always a passionate supporter of the Met and policing more generally, Pat has undertaken some of the most challenging and demanding roles, and has always approached them with passion and determination.

“Not only has Pat given so much to the Met, as the first black woman to reach the rank of chief constable she has been a role model and provided inspiration and coaching support to a great many more junior colleagues across the Met and more widely.”

Assistant Commissioner Gallan, said: “I have enjoyed my time in the Met as well as in other forces across the UK. At first hand every day, I have seen the commitment and professionalism of police officers and police staff, and I’m proud to have been a police officer and a detective in all of the forces in which I have served - with the Met as my first and last force having a very special meaning to me.

“Having served for over 30 years, I have been very privileged to have served as an Assistant Commissioner and I am very proud of our police officers and staff.

“Whilst I am looking forward to new challenges, I will always be a strong supporter of policing, and the Met’s people - police officers and staff.”