The new Metropolitan Police Commissioner will be the first woman to hold the most senior role in British policing.

Cressida Dick will succeed Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe when he steps down after six years in the job at the end of the week.

Ms Dick, 56, will return to the force after leaving for the Foreign Office two years ago.

The national lead for police counter-terrorism for three years, including during the Olympics, Ms Dick oversaw many of Scotland Yard's most sensitive investigations, including into phone hacking and parliamentary expenses.

She came under intense scrutiny when she was in charge of the operation that led to the fatal shooting of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was wrongly identified as a potential suicide bomber.

A jury cleared Ms Dick of any blame in his death.