Yard chief jumps before he’s pushed over abuse inquiry

SIR Bernard Hogan-Howe dramatically quit yesterday just days before he is handed a damning review of the disastrous VIP sex ring inquiry.

The Scotland Yard boss stepped down after five years dogged by controversy in anticipation of stinging criticism over his handling of Operation Midland.

His decision took senior colleagues and City Hall by surprise and came just months after he was granted a one-year extension to his role as Britain’s most senior police officer. It suggests the 58-year-old suspected he would not survive inevitable calls for his resignation ignited by the report.

Retired High Court judge Sir Richard Henriques is expected to attack the Met for falling in thrall to the fantasist accuser known only as ‘Nick’, whose claims led to the investigation of war hero Lord Bramall, former Home Secretary Leon Brittan and ex-Tory MP Harvey Proctor.

Critics dubbed the £2million inquiry, Operation Midland, as a witch-hunt and accused Sir Bernard of allowing it to spiral out of control.

Last night, Mr Proctor, one of Sir Bernard’s most outspoken detractors, branded him a ‘disgrace’ who should have stepped down ‘many months ago’.

In keeping with his tightly controlled fiveyear reign, Sir Bernard carefully orchestrated the unexpected news of his retirement. He gave no obvious reasons for his decision but simply told senior colleagues it was the ‘right time to go’ from his £278,563a-year post. The Met chief informed London mayor Sadiq Khan of his decision over the telephone and personally visited Home Secretary Amber Rudd.

He will now retire in February, seven months ahead of the expiry of his contract. City Hall was unable to say if he will be paid for this period, but the top officer is unlikely to be caught short after 37 years’ police service as his gold-plated public sector pension could be worth up to £185,000 a year.

Sir Bernard brought the Met out of the chaos of the 2011 riots and under the banner of ‘Total Policing’ he oversaw a successful London Olympics, championed common-sense policing methods and safeguarded the city from terrorism.

But the speedy unravelling of Operation Midland, the VIP sex abuse investigation, ultimately proved to be his downfall.

In recent months Sir Bernard also clashed with the new Labour mayor Mr Khan, who had signalled he wanted his own man in office, but his resignation has rocked City Hall and Whitehall due to the lack of obvious candidates to replace him.

Mrs Rudd thanked Sir Bernard, saying: ‘He has had a long and distinguished career as a determined crimefighter and an inspirational senior officer.’

‘Should have stepped down months ago’