David Westwood
Encyclopedia
David Westwood, QPM
, is a British
former police officer
. He was Chief Constable
of Humberside Police
from March 1999 until March 2005. In 2004, he was suspended from July until September as a result of the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders
.
Westwood joined Sussex Police
as a constable
in 1967, and became a Sergeant in Avon and Somerset Constabulary
in 1975. He was promoted to Inspector in 1980. He moved to Humberside Police
in 1992, becoming Chief Superintendent
, then became Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside
in 1995. Westwood became Deputy Chief Constable of Humberside in 1997, becoming Chief Constable in 1999.
He was chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers
Race and Community Relations Committee from 2000 until 2003, overseeing the introduction of new procedures for the Police Service on race issues following the publication of Sir William Macpherson's Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. In 2001, Westwood was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
for services to policing.
As a result of failings by Humberside Police highlighted by the report into the Soham murders
, the Home Secretary
, David Blunkett
, called for Westwood's suspension, but the Humberside police authority
chairman Colin Inglis initially refused. In July 2004, he was suspended after the High Court
ruled that the police authority acted "in default of its statutory duty" by that refusal. Westwood was reinstated in September 2004, on condition he took early retirement in March 2005.
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
, is a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
former police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
. He was Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Humberside Police
Humberside Police
Humberside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing an area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, the city of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire...
from March 1999 until March 2005. In 2004, he was suspended from July until September as a result of the Bichard inquiry into the Soham murders
Soham murders
The Soham murders was an English murder case in 2002 of two 10-year-old girls in the village of Soham, Cambridgeshire.The victims were Holly Marie Wells and Jessica Aimee Chapman...
.
Westwood joined Sussex Police
Sussex Police
Sussex Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing East Sussex, West Sussex and City of Brighton and Hove in southern England. Its head office is in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex.-History:...
as a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
in 1967, and became a Sergeant in Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Avon & Somerset Constabulary is the territorial police force in England responsible for policing the non-metropolitan county of Somerset, the city & county of Bristol and the unitary authorities of South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset; before 1996 these districts...
in 1975. He was promoted to Inspector in 1980. He moved to Humberside Police
Humberside Police
Humberside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing an area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, the city of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire...
in 1992, becoming Chief Superintendent
Chief Superintendent
Chief superintendent is a senior rank in police forces organised on the British model.- United Kingdom :In the British police, a chief superintendent is senior to a superintendent and junior to an assistant chief constable .The highest rank below Chief Officer level, chief...
, then became Assistant Chief Constable of Merseyside
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
in 1995. Westwood became Deputy Chief Constable of Humberside in 1997, becoming Chief Constable in 1999.
He was chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
Race and Community Relations Committee from 2000 until 2003, overseeing the introduction of new procedures for the Police Service on race issues following the publication of Sir William Macpherson's Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. In 2001, Westwood was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
for services to policing.
As a result of failings by Humberside Police highlighted by the report into the Soham murders
Soham murders
The Soham murders was an English murder case in 2002 of two 10-year-old girls in the village of Soham, Cambridgeshire.The victims were Holly Marie Wells and Jessica Aimee Chapman...
, the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
, David Blunkett
David Blunkett
David Blunkett is a British Labour Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough, having represented Sheffield Brightside from 1987 to 2010...
, called for Westwood's suspension, but the Humberside police authority
Police authority
A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
chairman Colin Inglis initially refused. In July 2004, he was suspended after the High Court
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
ruled that the police authority acted "in default of its statutory duty" by that refusal. Westwood was reinstated in September 2004, on condition he took early retirement in March 2005.