Cressida Dick has been announced as the next commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
She will be the first woman in the 187-year history of the Met to take the position, having previously worked at the Foreign Office and in counter terrorism.
Dick said she was 'thrilled and humbled' by her appointment, which shattered a glass ceiling older than the Met itself.
She said: 'This is a great responsibility and an amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward immensely to protecting and serving the people of London and working again with the fabulous women and men of the Met. Thank you so much to everyone who has taught me and supported me along the way.'
'Cressida Dick is an exceptional leader, and has a clear vision for the future of the Metropolitan Police and an understanding of the diverse range of communities it serves,' said Home Secretary Amber Rudd.
Cressida became well known in the aftermath of the 2005 London Bombings as the ‘gold commander’ in charge of the operation which led to the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Mendez, a Brazilian national who was wrongly suspected of terrorism.
A criminal trial in 2007 cleared her of any personal blame, but many thought the controversy could block her becoming leader of the Met.
Since 2005, Cressida continued to advance her career in the police, becoming deputy assistant commissioner in 2006, before being promoted to assistant commissioner in 2009.
Cressida has had responsibility for some of the country’s most sensitive inquiries including phone hacking and the re-investigation of Stephen Lawrence’s murder, 20 years after the first enquiry.
In 2013, BBC Radio 4’s Women’s Hour ranked her as one of the 100 most powerful women in Britain.
The announcement of her appointment came on Wednesday after the interview panel, which included the Home Secretary, and Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, made their decision.
Khan said: 'This is a historic day for London and a proud day for me as mayor. The Metropolitan police do an incredible job, working hard with enormous dedication every single day to keep Londoners safe, so for me it was absolutely essential that we found the best possible person to take the Met forward over the coming years and I am confident that we have succeeded.'