Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe retires

Pic: Sir Bernard Hogan
Staff reporter(wp/es):
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe announced today he was retiring after five years in charge of the Met Police.
The Commissioner, who had been expected to stay in the role until September, will continue until February to give enough time for a successor to be found.
Sir Bernard, who was first appointed to the role in September 2011, spoke today of his pride at leading London’s police force.

 Here is his statement in full:

"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 came 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."

Stockwell Green mosque under investigation over 'promoting killing of Muslim Ahmadis sect'

Staff reporter(es/wp):
A London mosque is being investigated by the charities watchdog following allegations it promoted the killing of Muslims from a minority sect.
The Charity Commission announced the inquiry into Stockwell Green mosque today after reports that leaflets were found suggesting Ahmadis who did not convert to mainstream Islam within three days should face “capital punishment” — the death penalty.
Mosque leaders previously denied the leaflets were found at the premises.
Ahmadis are banned from referring to themselves as Muslims in Pakistan because they believe their founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, was a prophet — something perceived as blasphemous by many Muslims.

The commission first visited the mosque — also known as Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nubuwwat, a registered charity — in May and launched the statutory inquiry this month.
It will probe suspicions of poor governance, financial management and trustees “carrying out activities outside the charity’s stated objects”.
A mosque spokesman could not be reached for comment.
The probe comes after the killing of Ahmadi shopkeeper Asad Shah in Glasgow last March in a sectarian attack.