Sir Denis O'Connor

Sir Denis’s distinguished policing career began in the Metropolitan Police Service where he rose to the rank of Assistant Commissioner.  Following his appointment as Chief Constable of Surrey Police, he became one of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Constabulary and then Chief Inspector before retiring in 2012. He was responsible for several significant HMIC reports: Adapting to Protest (2009) concerning the policing of the 2009 G20 London Summit protests, Stop the Rot (2010), which examined the effects of anti-social behaviour and the withdrawal of police street patrols, and Rules of Engagement: A review of the 2011 disorders in England (2011).

Since 2012, Sir Denis has played a critical role in the development of the Police Executive Programme at the University of Cambridge Institute of Criminology where he has been involved in teaching senior police in the Master’s degree in Applied Criminology and Police Management.  He is a Vice President for the Community Foundation for Surrey which raises and provides funding for education, training, skills and volunteering opportunities to those who need motivation or a second chance in life.  

Sir Denis was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 1996. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2002 and was knighted in the 2010 Birthday Honours.