The next Metropolitan police commissioner must have a background in policing to retain the confidence of rank-and-file officers, the chair of the force’s police federation has said.
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe announced on Thursday his retirement from the most senior policing role in Britain, triggering the search for a new commissioner.
Speculation as to who will fill the position began instantly, with a report in the Times suggesting Sir Charles Montgomery – the head of the Border Force who was the second sea lord when he retired from the navy in 2012 – is being considered as a successor.
But Ken Marsh, the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, the regional branch of the body that represents thousands of rank-and-file officers, said the next Met chief must have climbed the ranks to succeed in the role.
“This isn’t an easy gig that you can just walk into,” Marsh said. “I believe, I firmly believe, you have to have a firm footing, or an understanding of what takes place in the lower ranks all the way through. That’s how you have the opportunity and bring everyone together, which is what you need to do as a commissioner.”
Marsh said he did not think the home secretary, Amber Rudd, and the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, who are responsible for appointing the commissioner, would recruit from outside policing “in a month of Sundays”.
“It would be controversial, but I don’t think they will.”
Marsh said it would not be appropriate for the commissioner to be recruited from overseas, which is an option open to all forces after regulations were changed under the previous home secretary, Theresa May.
“I would like to see someone internally or close to us because they will understand what they’re talking about,” Marsh said.
Hogan-Howe completed a full five-year term earlier this month – the first Metropolitan police commissioner not to be ousted in a decade – and was expected to continue for another year after having his contract extended. He will now retire in February 2017.
News of his departure came ahead of the release next month of a report into the Met’s handling of historical sex abuse cases, which is expected to be critical, though probably not of the commissioner.
Among those who may apply for the £276,000-a-year post is Mark Rowley, an assistant commissioner of the Met who oversees counter-terrorism.
Another contender is Sara Thornton, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council and former head of the Thames Valley force, bordering London. She has been described as David Cameron’s favourite police chief, with his former constituency of Witney being in the area of her old force.
