Britain's top police officer to step down next year

By Michael Holden LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's most senior police officer Bernard Hogan-Howe, who oversaw policing at the 2012 Olympic Games and London's efforts to tackle extremism, will retire in 2017 after five years, the Metropolitan police said on Thursday. Hogan-Howe, who was appointed London Metropolitan Police (MPS) Commissioner in Sept. 2011, said he would step down in February, earlier than was expected, to give time for Britain's Home Secretary (interior minister) and London Mayor Sad