Kenneth Newman
Encyclopedia
Sir Kenneth Leslie Newman, GBE
, QPM
(born 15 August 1926) was Commissioner
of the Metropolitan Police
from 1982 to 1987 and Chief Constable
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
from 1976 to 1980. He is best known for initiating a major reform and restructure of the Metropolitan Police during his tenure as Commissioner and for seeing the Royal Ulster Constabulary replace the British Army as the dominant security force in Northern Ireland
during his tenure as Chief Constable.
and joined the Royal Air Force
in 1942. After basic training, Newman trained to be a wireless operator at the RAF's No. 1 Radio School when he was nicknamed "Jankers
" but he did not complete the course and remustered to become a Mechanical Transport Driver. Completing his training, Newman served for two years with the RAF Far East Air Force
. On his return to England, he promptly joined the Palestine Police Force
in the British Mandate of Palestine, where he served as a uniformed officer before being seconded to the Palestine Special Branch as a detective. When the Palestine Police were disbanded in 1948, the Metropolitan Police sent several recruitment officers from London
to convince interested officers to transfer to the Met – Newman signed up and returned to London shortly afterwards where he was stationed at Bow Street
.
in 1953; a Detective Inspector
with the Vice Squad; Chief Inspector
at Southwark
in 1963 and Superintendent
and Chief Superintendent
at Gerald Road from 1968. Noted by his colleagues and superiors as a high-flyer, Newman had developed several important initiatives including a traffic warden
scheme and reviewing police public order tactics for a major anti-Vietnam War
demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square
.
After undertaking external studies at the University of London
, Newman received a Bachelor of Laws
with Honours in 1971, and was promoted to Commander
, serving in various capacities at New Scotland Yard.
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
in Northern Ireland
, and was promoted to Chief Constable in May 1976. Using his experience in public order policing, and his penchant for reform, Newman was instrumental in transforming the RUC from a "poor cousin" of the British Army
in the province, to a streamlined and effective, police force. He introducted the policy of Ulsterisation. Newman was knighted in 1978 after his work with the RUC.
and Commandant
of the Police Staff College, Bramshill
, where he once again honed his skills in public order policing and management reform.
Newman also spoke out against the prevalence of Freemasonry
in the police, although a police Freemason's Lodge, the Manor of St James, was set up and flourished shortly after his comments.
Newman retired in 1987, his reforms paving the way for his successor, Sir Peter Imbert
, to implement further reforms known as the PLUS Programme.
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...
(born 15 August 1926) was Commissioner
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer...
of the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan 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...
from 1982 to 1987 and 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 the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
from 1976 to 1980. He is best known for initiating a major reform and restructure of the Metropolitan Police during his tenure as Commissioner and for seeing the Royal Ulster Constabulary replace the British Army as the dominant security force in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
during his tenure as Chief Constable.
Early life and career
Newman was born on 15 August 1926 in SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
and joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1942. After basic training, Newman trained to be a wireless operator at the RAF's No. 1 Radio School when he was nicknamed "Jankers
Jankers
In the British Armed Services, jankers is a much used vernacular term for an official punishment. The punishment was the consequence of a man or woman committing a minor breach of discipline, as opposed to the more severe punishment of "detention" which would be given for a man committing a more...
" but he did not complete the course and remustered to become a Mechanical Transport Driver. Completing his training, Newman served for two years with the RAF Far East Air Force
RAF Far East Air Force
The former Royal Air Force Far East Air Force, more simply known as RAF Far East Air Force, was the Command organisation that controlled all Royal Air Force assets in the east of Asia . It was originally formed as Air Command, South East Asia in 1943...
. On his return to England, he promptly joined the Palestine Police Force
Palestine Police Force
The Palestine Police Force was a British colonial police service established in the British Mandate for Palestine on 1 July 1920, when High Commissioner Herbert Samuel's civil administration took over responsibility for security from General Allenby's Occupied Enemy Territory Administration...
in the British Mandate of Palestine, where he served as a uniformed officer before being seconded to the Palestine Special Branch as a detective. When the Palestine Police were disbanded in 1948, the Metropolitan Police sent several recruitment officers from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to convince interested officers to transfer to the Met – Newman signed up and returned to London shortly afterwards where he was stationed at Bow Street
Bow Street Magistrates' Court
Bow Street Magistrates' Court was the most famous magistrates' court in England for much of its existence, and was located in various buildings on Bow Street in central London close to Covent Garden throughout its history.-History:...
.
Life in the Met
Newman rose up the ranks quickly: promoted to SergeantSergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 1953; a Detective Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
with the Vice Squad; Chief Inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
at Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
in 1963 and 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...
and 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...
at Gerald Road from 1968. Noted by his colleagues and superiors as a high-flyer, Newman had developed several important initiatives including a traffic warden
Traffic warden
A traffic warden is a non-warranted officer employed by a statutory authority in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Ireland, to assist in regulating the flow of traffic.- Ireland :...
scheme and reviewing police public order tactics for a major anti-Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
demonstration outside the U.S. Embassy in Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square
Grosvenor Square is a large garden square in the exclusive Mayfair district of London, England. It is the centrepiece of the Mayfair property of the Duke of Westminster, and takes its name from their surname, "Grosvenor".-History:...
.
After undertaking external studies at the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, Newman received a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
with Honours in 1971, and was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
, serving in various capacities at New Scotland Yard.
Northern Ireland
In 1973, Newman applied for the position of Deputy Chief ConstableChief 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 the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, and was promoted to Chief Constable in May 1976. Using his experience in public order policing, and his penchant for reform, Newman was instrumental in transforming the RUC from a "poor cousin" of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in the province, to a streamlined and effective, police force. He introducted the policy of Ulsterisation. Newman was knighted in 1978 after his work with the RUC.
Bramshill
Newman was recalled to England in 1980, and served for three years as Her Majesty's Inspector of ConstabularyHer 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:...
and Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Police Staff College, 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....
, where he once again honed his skills in public order policing and management reform.
Commissioner
Newman's appointment as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1982 came at a time when the Met was under intense public and media scrutiny. Newman subsequently initiated one of the most major reform campaigns the Met had ever undertaken. Amongst his initiatives were:- disbanding the controversial Special Patrol GroupSpecial Patrol GroupThe Special Patrol Group was a unit of Greater London's Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for providing a centrally-based mobile capability for combating serious public disorder and crime that could not be dealt with by local divisions....
and replacement with the better trained and equipped Territorial Support GroupTerritorial Support GroupThe Territorial Support Group is a Central Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service consisting of 720 officers, that specialises in public order containment among other specialist policing. The TSG is a uniformed unit of the MPS that replaced the controversial Special Patrol Group... - the establishment of Area-based policing, divesting the centralised officers and resources of New Scotland Yard into eight geographical areas
- publishing Principles of Policing to replace the traditional Standing Orders, with the assistance of the new MPS Policy Committee, changing the fundamental guidelines for policing in London for the first time in 150 years
Newman also spoke out against the prevalence of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
in the police, although a police Freemason's Lodge, the Manor of St James, was set up and flourished shortly after his comments.
Newman retired in 1987, his reforms paving the way for his successor, Sir 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....
, to implement further reforms known as the PLUS Programme.