Anti-terror chief to replace Cressida Dick
BRITAIN’S former counterterrorism chief Sir Mark Rowley was given the toughest job in policing yesterday as the Commissioner of Scotland Yard.
The 57-year-old was chosen by the Home Secretary to steady the Met during the worst crisis in its history.
Sir Mark pitched a 100-day plan to start turning the country’s biggest force around, including boosting confidence in its ability to tackle violence against women and girls and driving down violence.
He previously achieved such a feat as the Met’s head of special operations from 2011, when he reduced shootings by 42 per cent and the murder rate fell to a record low.
He is regarded by colleagues as fiercely intelligent, judicious and calm under pressure.
He led the country’s counter-terrorism command for four years after the Westminster, Manchester and London Bridge attacks of 2017. Prior to that he achieved the highest public confidence ratings in the country as chief constable of Surrey Police.
Sir Mark was chosen over Met assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave for the £293,000-a-year job after Dame Cressida Dick was ousted in February by London mayor Sadiq Khan following scandals including the murder of Sarah Everard by an officer and the jailing of two officers who photographed dead bodies.
Last month the force was plunged into special measures. Sir Mark had pitched for the top job in 2017 before retiring from the police in 2018 after being knighted for his ‘exceptional contribution to national security’.
Yesterday the new Commissioner said: ‘I know the majority of officers and staff retain an extraordinary sense of vocation and determination and want us to do better. It is my job to help them do that, whilst also being ruthless in removing those who are corrupting our integrity.’
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘This will be a challenging period, but with a focus on tackling neighbourhood crime and delivering the basics of policing, Sir Mark is committed to tackling the significant challenges confronting the force.’
Mr Khan said: ‘Sir Mark has made clear to me he is determined to be a reforming Commissioner, committed to implementing a robust plan to rebuild trust and confidence.’
‘Removing those corrupting integrity’