When Was The Last Time the Met Police Commissioner Patrolled on a Horse?
At Tuesday night’s football at White Hart Lane, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe was part of the mounted force policing the match. It’s here in the Metro.
It’s not the first time though that Hogan-Howe has been at a high-profile event on a horse in uniform. This is an extract from a report in the Guardian.
One of Bernard Hogan-Howe’s greatest pleasures as chief constable of Merseyside police was riding through the crowds on horseback at the Grand National. It gave him the chance to pursue his passion for horse-riding while also soaking up the very particular atmosphere of Aintree.
I’ve always felt that horses are an interesting part of a Police Force’s tools. If of course they are used properly.
But I do wonder who was the previous high-ranking Police Officer who patrolled on horse in London?
The Anonymous Widower 
There was a time (pre 1960’s and the advent of Robert Mark) when being able to ride a horse was the ONLY qualification required for Met Commissioner. Robert Mark didn’t ride, which must have been a major contribution to road safety, bur certainly in the ’80s Deputy Assistant Commissioners would turn out on horseback for events like the Troop. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations should bring a few more out of the woodwork.
Comment by peter hoskins | February 4, 2012 |
I know about a bit of that, as one of C’s cousins had been a Superintendent and at one time in the 1940s or 1950s was in charge of the horses at Kings Cross. Whether he said it to C. or I heard it elsewhere, was that one of their duties before Trooping the Colour was to tire out the Queen’s horse, by walking it a long way.
Surely though as he is the Commissioner they should give him a distinctive horse.
The City of London force has this one.
https://anonw.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/a-coloured-police-horse/
Comment by AnonW | February 4, 2012 |