Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe 'to be given three-year contract extension'

Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe is to be given a three-year extension to his contract.

Sir Bernard, Britain’s most senior policeman, is in talks over the extension and Mayor of London Boris Johnson is keen to push through the deal before he steps down in May, The Times reported today.

The 57-year-old’s current contract is due to expire in September and any extension would need the backing of the home secretary Theresa May.

It would make him the longest-serving head of the Metropolitan Police since the 1990s, with scandals cutting short the tenures of other recent chiefs.

Sir Bernard took the helm just after the London Riots in 2011 and after the previous commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, had left in the wake of the phone hacking scandal.

Sir Paul had been in the post for just over two years and was preceded by Sir Ian Blair, who served four years.

News of the contract extension comes amid criticism of the Met over the handling of its high profile inquiry into an alleged Westminster paedophile ring.

Doubts have been raised over the claims of the main witness – known as “Nick” – and the decision of detectives to publicly call his account “credible and true”.

However, The Times reported that Sir Bernard has Mr John

The Mayor is understood to be keen to seal an extension before he relinquishes control of City Hall.

London Assembly member Jenny Jones, of the Green Party, told the Times: “There was such turmoil with previous commissioners that I can imagine they want a bit of continuity and calm.”

son’s “full support”.