Ian Johnston (police officer)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Ian Ridley Johnston, CBE
, QPM
, DL
was the Chief Constable
of British Transport Police
. He became Chief Constable on 1 May 2001 when he succeeded David Williams QPM
, who had served as Chief Constable for three and a half years.
Born in 1945, Johnston joined the Metropolitan Police
in 1965 and served as Staff Officer to former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Peter Imbert
. In 1982, he graduated from London School of Economics
with a first in Social Administration
.
Having completed the Senior Command Course at Bramshill
, Johnston moved to Kent Constabulary
in 1989, where he served as Assistant Chief Constable
in charge of first Administration and Supply, and then Operations, before moving back to the Metropolitan Police in 1992 as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner
.
In 1994 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner
for the South East London area, but in 1999 moved to Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Territorial Policing in 2000.
In the 1995 New Years Honours list he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
, and in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours list the CBE
. He was knighted
in the 2009 Birthday Honours. In September 2009 Sir Ian retired from the British Transport Police and was succeeded by Andrew Trotter OBE
QPM
Johnston came to media attention having given evidence before the enquiry and following the publication of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, Johnston apologised to the Lawrence family for institutionalised racism; but controversially argued that race can legitimately be used by police as a basis for stop and search. Johnston reiterated this argument in the aftermath of the London Tube bombings in 2005. Johnston had been mooted as being the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police after the retirement of Sir John Stevens
in 2005. Sir John had described Johnston as a "substantial figure" at the Met, and noted that following his departure for British Transport Police Johnston was missed. The role of Commissioner was to be given to Sir Ian Blair.
Ian Johnston currently holds the chair (since April 2005) of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
Crime Business Area, and is chairman of Orpington Rovers Football Club, Bromley.
Order 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...
, QPM
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...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
was the 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 British Transport Police
British Transport Police
The British Transport Police is a special police force that polices those railways and light-rail systems in Great Britain for which it has entered into an agreement to provide such services...
. He became Chief Constable on 1 May 2001 when he succeeded David Williams QPM
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...
, who had served as Chief Constable for three and a half years.
Born in 1945, Johnston joined the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in 1965 and served as Staff Officer to former Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Peter Imbert
Peter Imbert, Baron Imbert
Peter Michael Imbert, Baron Imbert CVO QPM was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service from 1987 to 1993, and prior to that appointment Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police from 1979 to 1985....
. In 1982, he graduated from London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
with a first in Social Administration
Social policy
Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...
.
Having completed the Senior Command Course at Bramshill
Police Staff College, Bramshill
The Police Staff College, Bramshill, Bramshill House, Bramshill, Hook, Hampshire, England, is the principal police staff training establishment in the United Kingdom....
, Johnston moved to Kent Constabulary
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...
in 1989, where he served as Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
in charge of first Administration and Supply, and then Operations, before moving back to the Metropolitan Police in 1992 as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy assistant commissioner is a rank in London's Metropolitan Police Service between assistant commissioner and commander. It is equivalent to deputy chief constable in other British police forces and wears the same insignia: a pip above crossed tipstaves within a wreath.The rank was introduced...
.
In 1994 he was appointed 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:...
for the South East London area, but in 1999 moved to Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for Territorial Policing in 2000.
In the 1995 New Years Honours list he 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...
, and in the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours list the CBE
Order 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...
. He 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 2009 Birthday Honours. In September 2009 Sir Ian retired from the British Transport Police and was succeeded by Andrew Trotter OBE
Order 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...
QPM
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...
Johnston came to media attention having given evidence before the enquiry and following the publication of the Macpherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. On behalf of the Metropolitan Police, Johnston apologised to the Lawrence family for institutionalised racism; but controversially argued that race can legitimately be used by police as a basis for stop and search. Johnston reiterated this argument in the aftermath of the London Tube bombings in 2005. Johnston had been mooted as being the next Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police after the retirement of Sir John Stevens
John Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
John Arthur Stevens, Baron Stevens of Kirkwhelpington KStJ QPM DL FRSA was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 2000 until 2005. From 1991 to 1996, he was Chief Constable of Northumbria Police before being appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary in September 1996...
in 2005. Sir John had described Johnston as a "substantial figure" at the Met, and noted that following his departure for British Transport Police Johnston was missed. The role of Commissioner was to be given to Sir Ian Blair.
Ian Johnston currently holds the chair (since April 2005) of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO)
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...
Crime Business Area, and is chairman of Orpington Rovers Football Club, Bromley.