Rowley named chief constable of Surrey

Mark Rowley, the Temporary Chief Constable of Surrey Police has had his posiion made permanent following a full recruitment process.

Surrey Police Authority confirmed the appointment this afternoon stating it was made following a rigorous process of interviews and assessment, and was the unanimous decision of the selection panel.

Mark Rowley has been serving as Temporary Chief Constable of Surrey Police since the departure of Bob Quick to the Metropolitan Police Service in March 2008.

Since his appointment as Temporary Chief Constable, he has led in the development of the Surrey Public First initiative which puts the needs and wishes of local people before chasing targets, an approach which has led to public confidence in local policing in Surrey increasing to over 80% as well as achieving substantial reductions in crime.  Serious acquisitive crime and serious violent crime have been reduced by over 10% and 20% respectively since the beginning of April 2008.

Commenting on the appointment, Peter Williams, Chairman of the Police Authority said: “The process of recruitment has been both lengthy and rigorous. Mark impressed us greatly with his expertise, experience and vision for policing in Surrey.

“We at the Police Authority are delighted with Mark’s appointment, and look forward to working closely with him in the coming years as we continue to build a local police force that works first and foremost in the interests of the people it serves, and one that Surrey people can continue to have real confidence in.”

Mark Rowley added: “I have spent the past nine years of my career with Surrey Police, and it is a great honour for me to be appointed its Chief Constable. In my time as the Temporary Chief Constable, we have made a fundamental move away from target-driven policing towards a common-sense approach where officers can use their discretion to better serve local communities, and I look forward to developing this further. Further improving neighbourhood policing and bearing down more upon cross-border crime through Operation Shield remain key priorities also.

“I am under no illusions over the challenges we face as an organisation, and I pledge to do my utmost to protect and improve front-line policing despite our well publicised funding constraints.”

After graduating from St. Catharines College, Cambridge, he began his policing career in 1987 as a Constable in the West Midlands. Following various uniform & detective appointments in the Birmingham area, he moved to the National Criminal Intelligence Service as a Detective Superintendent, where he led on the national development of covert techniques to combat organised crime. He was a key member of the team that compiled the National Intelligence Model.

On transferring to Surrey in 2000 as Chief Superintendent in the West Surrey Division, based in Guildford, he oversaw major crime reductions and led several countywide initiatives. He was appointed Assistant Chief Constable of Surrey Police in November 2003, where his responsibilities included local policing, crime reduction and criminal justice. He became Assistant Chief Constable responsible for major & organised crime in 2005, before achieving promotion to Deputy Chief Constable in 2007.