Sir Hugh Orde named as new ACPO President

Sir Hugh Orde has been appointed the new President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

He will leave his post as Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which he has held for seven years, to take up the new position in the autumn.

Sir Hugh Orde had been vice-president of ACPO since January 2006. He said:

“To have been elected as the next President of ACPO is a great honour. I believe that UK policing is strongest when it is professional, operationally independent, and based on trust and accountability. Above all, our decisions should be tested against the reason for which we all joined policing; the protection of the public.”

Sir Hugh began his career with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1977. He worked his way up through the ranks of sergeant, inspector and chief inspector; when he was appointed as staff officer to Deputy Assistant Commissioner (South West London). He then took command of the Territorial Support Group as a superintendent and, between 1994 and 1997, was responsible for the management of major crime investigations across South West London.

He was appointed Commander (Crime) for South West London in 1998 and was the officer in command of the bomb at Brixton in April 1999.

He was responsible for the development of Operation Trident set up to deal with crack cocaine and murders and has worked in Jamaica in relation to this operation. During this time he became involved in the Commissioner’s initiatives in training a new Organised Crime Force in South Africa.
He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in October 1999.

He was awarded an OBE in the New Year Honours List 2001 for services to policing and received a Knighthood in the Birthday Honours List, in June 2005.

He was appointed to the post of Chief Constable of the PSNI on May 29, 2002 and took up the position on September 1, 2002.

In April 2008 Sir Hugh’s achievements at the PSNI was recognised with the annual Leadership Award from the Police Executive Research Forum. The award is granted to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to law enforcement and focuses on those who portray the highest leadership standards at a national level. This was the first time it had been presented to someone from the United Kingdom.

Sir Hugh is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute and also holds a Degree in Public Administration and an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent.

The Chairman of the Northern Ireland Policing Board (NIPB) has offered congratulations to Sir Hugh on his new appointment.

“Whilst I deeply regret losing Sir Hugh Orde, I am nevertheless delighted that he has been appointed President of ACPO; and on behalf of the NIPB I congratulate him on his success.” He said.

“Sir Hugh will bring considerable skills and professional experience to this role and his election to the post by his peers is evidence of the high esteem in which he is held.”

The Board will now begin the process for appointing Sir Hugh’s successor.

The 342 ACPO members voted on the decision yesterday, April 15. Other eligible candidates were Chief Constable Julie Spence of Cambridgeshire Police and Chief Constable Ian Johnston of the British Transport Police.

Sir Ken Jones, current ACPO President, said:

“I am delighted to announce that Sir Hugh Orde has been elected as the next ACPO President. Chief officers were presented with three outstanding candidates, each with their own strengths. Sir Hugh brings a wealth of experience and leadership to ACPO at what is likely to be a very difficult and challenging time for the Service.

“Increasingly the Service and its leadership are being drawn into political controversies and it will fall to Sir Hugh to steer us on a sure path through the forthcoming period, both up to and beyond the next general election.”