Former chief constable returns to Liverpool as professor
Liverpool John Moores University has recruited one of Britain’s top law enforcement figures – Sir Andy Cooke QPM DL – to the post of Professor of Policing Studies.
The university says the addition of Sir Andy, a former chief constable of Merseyside Police (2016-21) and outgoing HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, will “add further prestige” to the Liverpool Centre for Advanced Policing Studies (LCAPS).
Sir Jon Murphy, also a former Merseyside chief constable, and Steve Finnigan CBE, ex-chief constable of Lancashire Constabulary, have been part of the team at LJMU for the best part of a decade.
Professor Dan Silverstone, director of the School of Law and Justice at LJMU, home to LCAPS, said: “Our aspiration to be the leading UK university centre for policing matches the ambition of these highly-decorated and experienced professionals to contribute to the future of policing through education and innovation.
“We are extremely privileged to welcome Sir Andy along with other public servants of the highest calibre to Liverpool.”
Sir Andy said: “After four decades in policing, it feels right to be coming home to Liverpool to begin this new chapter. This city shaped who I am, and I’m proud to return full-time to work alongside such distinguished colleagues at LJMU.
“Throughout my career, I’ve seen how the right guidance and opportunity can transform a young person’s future. I want to use everything I’ve learned to help the next generation of police leaders develop the skills and values they’ll need to serve their communities. There’s no better place to do that than here.”
LCAPS is a multi-disciplinary research centre that brings together former police officers and leading academics to teach the next generation of police leaders. The school teaches a wide range of degree, apprenticeship and professional courses as sole provider and with the College of Policing, in criminology, policing, forensics, investigations, criminal psychology and more.
Born and bred in Liverpool, Sir Andy joined Merseyside Police in 1985 and served as a detective at every rank, worked on the force’s Major Crime Unit and was the first commander of the nationally recognised ‘Matrix’ team, focusing on combating gun and gang-related crime.
He became assistant chief constable of Lancashire in 2008 before being named deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police in 2013 and chief constable in 2016. Under his leadership, the force was graded as the highest-performing metropolitan force by HMICFRS. He led the creation of the Protected Persons Service and was the national policing lead for serious organised crime.
In 2021, Sir Andy was appointed as one of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, where he was responsible for Northern England. In 2022, he was appointed as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, where he repeatedly highlighted the changes needed to improve culture and leadership and to increase focus on the issues that matter most to communities.
Sir Andy was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2014, was made an LJMU Honorary Fellow in 2023 and was knighted in December 2024 for services to policing and public service.