Deadline arrives for Met commissioner role
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
Londoners are close to finding out who will take over the Met during one of the most chaotic periods of its history.
With a noon deadline for applications now passed, reports suggest the contest is between Stephen House, Tim Godwin, Sir Hugh Orde and Bernard Hogan-Howe.
Strathclyde Chief Constable House was asked to apply for the job at the Home Office following a long stint at the Met and a successful period dealing with gang problems north of the border.
Mr Godwin is acting Met commissioner following the resignation of Sir Paul Stephenson during the height of the phone-hacking row.
Sir Hugh, who is believed to be the most popular candidate among officers themselves, is thought to be applying for the second time, after losing out to Sir Paul on his first attempt.
The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) has a fractious relationship with Boris Johnson and Theresa May, however, following several outspoken criticisms of government policy and generally independent-minded approach to the job.
With the mayor and the home secretary ultimately deciding on the candidate after a panel recommendation by the Metropolitan Police Authority, that caveat makes it considerably more unlikely that Sir High will secure the top post.
Mr Hogan-Howe was drafted in as deputy commissioner last month following the resignation of John Yates, again over phone-hacking.
The decision to move him in suggested that the Home Office is keen for him to take the post, although there have been murmurs about his tactics during last week's rioting.
Ms May confirmed this week that the job would not be given to a foreigner, despite suggestions that Downing Street would have liked American Bill Bratton to take the job.
"I absolutely believe that we will be able to find from amongst our ranks the sort of tough crimefighter equipped to lead the Metropolitan Police and drive down crime in our capital," she said.
There are plenty of challenges facing the new commissioner.
The Met is facing criticism of its handling of the riots and the behaviour of the leadership during the original phone-hacking investigation.
It is engaged in a very public war of words with the government over tactics during the last week's disorder and must prepare for the Notting Carnival and next year's Olympics.
