Denis O'Connor (police officer)
Encyclopedia
Sir Denis Francis O’Connor, CBE, QPM
is currently Chief Inspector of Constabulary
. He was appointed on 11 May 2009.
. He left in 1970 and rejoined as a graduate entrant in 1974. He was appointed as a Superintendent
in Surrey Police
in 1985. He returned in 1988 as a Chief Superintendent
to the Metropolitan Police Service. He rose to the rank of commander in the MPS. In 1991, he was appointed as an Assistant Chief Constable with Surrey Police before transferring to Kent Police
where he was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable between 1993 and 1997. In 1997, he became a Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner
. He was appointed Chief Constable
of Surrey Police from 2000 till 2004.
Since 2004, he has been one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary
, becoming Acting Chief Inspector on 1 December 2008.
in 2002, and was knighted
in the 2010 Birthday Honours.
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 currently Chief Inspector of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland in the United Kingdom have statutory responsibility for the inspection of police forces.-England and Wales:...
. He was appointed on 11 May 2009.
Career
His police career began in 1968 as a constable with the Metropolitan Police ServiceMetropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
. He left in 1970 and rejoined as a graduate entrant in 1974. He was appointed as a Superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
in Surrey Police
Surrey Police
Surrey Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Surrey in the south of England.The force is led by Chief Constable Mark Rowley and has its headquarters at Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey...
in 1985. He returned in 1988 as a 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...
to the Metropolitan Police Service. He rose to the rank of commander in the MPS. In 1991, he was appointed as an Assistant Chief Constable with Surrey Police before transferring to Kent Police
Kent Police
Kent Police is the territorial police force for Kent in England, including the unitary authority of Medway.-Area and organisation:The force covers an area of with an approximate population of 1,660,588 . The Chief Constable is currently Ian Learmonth, who was appointed in 2010 and is the former...
where he was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable between 1993 and 1997. In 1997, he became a Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner
Assistant commissioner is a rank used in many police forces across the globe. It is also a rank used in revenue administrations in many countries.-Australia:...
. He was appointed 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 Surrey Police from 2000 till 2004.
Since 2004, he has been one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for Scotland in the United Kingdom have statutory responsibility for the inspection of police forces.-England and Wales:...
, becoming Acting Chief Inspector on 1 December 2008.
Reports
- Adapting to Protest published 7 July 2009. This report concerned the policing of the 2009 G-20 London summit protests2009 G-20 London summit protestsThe 2009 G-20 London summit protests occurred in the days around the G-20 summit on 2 April 2009, which was the focus of protests from a number of groups over various long-standing and topical issues...
. - Stop the Rot, published 24 September 2010, that examined the effects of anti-social behaviourAnti-social behaviourAnti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
and the withdrawal of police street patrols. According to the Stop the Rot report, it confirmed the widely held belief by UK people, that the police had largely retreated from policing anti-social behaviour on the streets, by grading calls and not replying to incidents deemed to be below a specific grade of offense. The results was a rapid increase of yobbish behaviour in the last decade.
Awards
He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1996. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 2002, and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in the 2010 Birthday Honours.