Sir Mark Rowley appointed Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service

At a time when the Government is investing record sums into policing, including supporting the recruitment of 20,000 additional police officers across England and Wales, the new Commissioner will need to focus on “getting the basics right” as well as restoring confidence in policing, delivering on the Beating Crime Plan and making the capital’s streets safer.

Speaking about the appointment, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: “Sir Mark Rowley is a distinguished and exceptionally experienced police officer, having served the people of the West Midlands and Surrey before guiding the capital through some of its most challenging moments in the wake of the 2017 terrorist attacks as the Metropolitan Police Service’s then head of counter-terrorism.”

Patel continued: “Sir Mark now takes on one of the most important and demanding jobs in policing, leading the country’s largest force at a time when public trust in the Metropolitan Police Service has been severely undermined by a number of significant failings. Rebuilding public trust and delivering on crime reduction must be the priority.”

Further, the Home Secretary observed: “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 and to making London’s streets safer by driving down crime and bringing more criminals to justice.”

In conclusion, Patel stated: “We have supported the Metropolitan Police Service to recruit 2,599 extra police officers and increased its annual policing budget to £3.24 billion in 2022 to 2023. I look forward to working closely with Sir Mark to ensure this investment drives essential change that will ensure the force delivers for the people of London.”

Policing by consent

Responding to the Home Secretary, Sir Mark Rowley explained: “I feel deeply honoured to be appointed to be the next Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner. Our mission is to lead the renewal of policing by consent, which has been so heavily dented in recent years as trust and confidence have fallen.

I’m grateful that the Home Secretary and the Mayor of London are both determined to support the urgent reforms we need in order to deliver successful community crimefighting in today’s fast-moving world. These reforms include our use of technology and data, our culture and our policing approach.”

Further, Rowley outlined: “I also know that the majority of officers and staff retain an extraordinary sense of vocation and determination and want us to do better. It’s my job to help them do that, while also being ruthless in removing those who are corrupting our integrity. We will deliver more trust, less crime and high standards for London and beyond and we will work with London’s diverse communities as, together, we seek to renew the uniquely British invention of ‘policing by consent’.”

Sir Mark Rowley QPM was chief constable of Surrey Police for four years (from 2008 until 2011) before joining the Metropolitan Police Service in 2011. Sir Mark was a former Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Crime and Operations of the Metropolitan Police Service (from 2011 to 2014) and then the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for counter-terrorism between 2014 and 2018. He was knighted in 2018 for his exceptional contribution to national security and national leadership at a time of unprecedented threat.

Sir Mark Rowley’s career in policing spans over 30 years, during which time he has transformed national security and policing. As chief constable, he lifted the public confidence levels in Surrey to the highest in the country. After joining the Metropolitan Police Service, Sir Mark transformed the approach to UK counter-terrorism and policing gangs, increasing community engagement and workforce diversity, leading the police response to the London terror attacks of 2017 and reducing shootings and murders in London to an all-time low.

Importantly, he also led reform in the policing of public order, organised crime and fraud, launching the 200-strong Operation Falcon team to combat the growth of online fraud and cyber crime.

Since leaving policing in 2018, Sir Mark has worked in specialist security projects and on technology/data-led transformation with ‘start-ups’ and the world’s largest professional services company. He has focused on countering extremism and racism, online safety, institutional integrity and illicit finance.

The date of Sir Mark’s first day in the role of Metropolitan Police Service Commissioner will be confirmed in due course.

Challenging time

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “The Home Secretary and I have agreed that Sir Mark Rowley is the best person to lead the Metropolitan Police Service as the new Commissioner at this extremely challenging time.”

Khan added: “A series of appalling scandals have not only exposed deep cultural problems within the Met, but have also contributed to a crisis of confidence in London’s police service. Sir Mark has made clear to me that he is determined to be a reforming Commissioner, committed to implementing a robust plan to rebuild trust and confidence in the police and to drive through the urgent reforms and step change in culture and performance Londoners deserve. As Mayor, I will support this endeavour and hold him to these promises as I continue to hold the Met to account.”

In addition, Khan noted: “Sir Mark has demonstrated to me that he is the outstanding candidate for this role. He brings a wealth of great experience to the position, including exceptional leadership during the 2017 terror attacks and a genuine commitment to increasing engagement with diverse communities across our city. The experience he has gained outside policing over the last four years will also bring a valuable new perspective to the Met. Above all, he is committed to policing by consent and shares my ambition to reach a place wherein all Londoners feel protected and served and where we have a police force of which everyone – including the many brave and dedicated officers in our city – can be proud.”

In conclusion, Khan commented: “I look forward to supporting Sir Mark Rowley and working closely with the Home Secretary as we seek to restore trust and confidence in the police, ensure that the Met has the basics of policing right and build on the significant success we’ve enjoyed in driving down violence and crime in our city.”