The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, will retire in February 2017, it has been announced. 

In a statement, Sir Bernard said: "I am so proud of the remarkable men and women who serve Londoners as police officers and staff and make this such a safe place for people to live, work or visit. 

"I want to thank all of them for what they do, and the risks they take each day to protect the public. 

"I want to thank all the partners we work with in government, in City Hall and across London. And I want to thank the public for the support they show the Met, and have shown me personally, as we do our difficult jobs. 

"I cam into this job determined to fight crime and make the MPS the best, most professional police service. I wish my successor well as they take on this amazing responsibility. 

"It has been a great privilege to be the Met's Commissioner. I have loved my time in the role and I have loved being a police officer.

"It's the most rewarding of jobs to protect good people and lock up the bad guys."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has tweeted his thanks to Sir Bernard for his service to the capital. 

Sir Bernard has been head of the Metropolitan Poice since September 2011, and has led the force's response to the London riots, the security operation for the London 2012 Olympic Games and heightened security measures across the capital following the murder of Lee Rigby in 2013.