Cressida Dick becomes first female Met chief

Cressida Dick has been appointed as the new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, becoming the first woman to take charge of London's police force. Previously the national policing lead on counter terrorism, Dick said she was ‘thrilled and humbled’ to be appointed following Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe’s resignation. Dick left the Metropolitan Police after 31 years of service in December 2014, after a number of controversial issues, including being the commander in charge of the operation in which the innocent Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead two weeks after the 2005 London Bombings. A jury found that there was ‘no personal culpability’ for Dick. Dick was chosen for the role following extensive interviews ahead of Sara Thornton, National Police Chiefs' Council chairwoman, Stephen Kavanagh, Essex Police chief constable, and Scotland Yard's Mark Rowley.