MPA appoints two Assistant Commissioners: DAC Tarique Ghaffur and ACC Bernard Hogan-Howe

22/01
25 April 2001

The Metropolitan Police Authority has appointed Britain's first minority ethnic officer to the equivalent rank of Chief Constable. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, currently responsible for policing the City of Westminster, has been appointed Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.

Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe has also been appointed Assistant Commissioner and will join the Metropolitan Police from Merseyside Police Service, where he has responsibility for Area Operations. He was previously Head of Community Affairs in Merseyside having served all his career in South Yorkshire.

The officers were interviewed by a panel of five MPA members, with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens and Keith Povey, H.M. Inspector of Constabulary, acting as police advisors. The Clerk to the MPA Catherine Crawford was also in attendance.

MPA Chair, Toby Harris, who led the promotion panel said:

"Both Tarique Ghaffur and Bernard Hogan-Howe are outstanding officers who bring with them invaluable policing experience. We are extremely pleased to appoint them to the rank of Assistant Commissioner.

"The MPA works closely with the MPS to develop a progressive and innovative police service for our capital. We are confident that these two officers possess all the necessary skills, experience and personal qualities to further this work and deliver a first class police service for all London's diverse communities."

Commissioner Sir John Stevens described the applicants for the two posts as 'high calibre candidates' and said that Tarique Ghaffur's recent experiences as an MPS Deputy Assistant Commissioner would be put to good use in his new role.

"Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe also has an impressive track record in policing a major city and I'm delighted to welcome him to the Met," said the Commissioner.

He added:

"The appointment of these officers will strengthen the Met's senior management team and re-enforce our efforts to make London the safest major city in the world."

Notes to editors

A photograph of ACC Bernard Hogan-Howe is available from the MPA Press Office.

Biographical notes

DAC Tarique Ghaffur
Tarique Ghaffur was born in Uganda East Africa, coming to this country just before his family was expelled by Idi Amin. He joined Greater Manchester Police as a constable in 1974, serving with that force for 15 years, and rising to the rank of Chief Inspector.

Within Greater Manchester he undertook a number of Operational roles: Uniform, CID, Robbery Squad and Training as well as working within testing inner city areas such as Salford and Moss Side. He also took part in the Police goodwill mission to India.

In 1989 he moved to Leicestershire Constabulary as a Superintendent. He worked as a Divisional Commander at Loughborough and Leicester City, as well as at Headquarters.

Whilst at Leicestershire Constabulary he led a team that conducted a comprehensive review and restructuring of the service and was also a member of a team that conducted a review of the Jamaican Constabulary. He took part in a three month exchange scheme with the FBI at Quantico, Washington. In 1996 after attending a Strategic Command Course he was appointed as Assistant Chief Constable in Lancashire where he worked for three years with responsibility for Personnel, Training and latterly Operations. Within Leicestershire he lead on a number of change and developmental projects as well as being responsible for leading the policing operations at the Labour conference in Blackpool.

In May 1999 he was appointed Deputy Chief Constable and Director within the Police Information Technology Organisation in London. Six months later he joined the Metropolitan Police service as Deputy Assistant Commissioner.

Whilst in the Met he has led on operations within the South Area of London and in July 2000 took over as the Commander for the City of Westminster. He has also contributed to a number of policy areas, including Volunteers in policing, Stop and Search and Diversity.

Tarique Ghaffur has a BA Honours degree in Public Administration and an MA in Criminology. He is married with two children. His interests include current affairs, Asian film music and squash, a sport in which he has represented County and National Police teams.

Bernard Hogan-Howe
Bernard Hogan-Howe was born in Sheffield and is currently Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for Area Operations in Merseyside Police. In this post he is responsible for area co-ordination, crime reduction and community safety. Presently he leads the team carrying out the Neighbourhood Policing Review.

He joined South Yorkshire Police in 1979 and four years later was promoted to Sergeant, working in the vice squad and as a sector Sergeant before moving into the CID in April 1986. Mr. Hogan-Howe was promoted to Inspector and then Chief Inspector and by 1993 became Superintendent. Before leaving South Yorkshire Police he worked as District Commander for the Doncaster West Area.

Mr Hogan-Howe also headed departments in traffic policing, personnel and a team responsible for implementing a comprehensive re-organisation of South Yorkshire Police.

In September 1997, he joined Merseyside Police as Assistant Chief Constable and was Head of Community Affairs before taking responsibility for Area Operations in April 1999, he acted as Gold Command for the Grand National, British Open Golf Championship, Millennium celebrations, and the recent petrol protests. He also operated as Gold Commander in the National Police Information Centre at New Scotland Yard.

He has an MA in Law from Oxford University, a diploma in Applied Criminology from Cambridge University and in 1999 was awarded a Masters degree in Business Administration from Sheffield University. While studying at Oxford he was elected as Middle Common Room President to lead and represent that international group of students.

He enjoys football and horse riding, including duties with the mounted police. He supports Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and enjoys attending opera and the theatre.

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