MPA appoints new Deputy Assistant Commissioners and Commanders to the Met

84/01
31 October 2001

The Metropolitan Police Authority has appointed two new Deputy Assistant Commissioners and seven new Commanders, all of whom will occupy senior posts within the Metropolitan Police. 

The new Deputy Assistant Commissioners are Commander Carole Howlett and Assistant Chief Constable Stephen House. The new Commanders are Chief Superintendent David Armond, Detective Chief Superintendent André Baker, Chief Superintendent Robert Broadhurst, Chief Superintendent Alan Given, Superintendent Shabir Hussain, Chief Superintendent Stephen Otter and Detective Chief Superintendent Robert Quick.

The officers were interviewed by a panel of five MPA members with Sir John Stevens, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, acting as police advisor. Catherine Crawford, Clerk to the MPA, was also in attendance.

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

“I congratulate the successful candidates on their new positions, whether as Deputy Assistant Commissioner or Commander. Each of them made a distinct impression on the panel and impressed us with their tactical knowledge and strategic skills.

“Policing London, particularly in the current climate, is a challenge that exacts the highest degree of professionalism and expertise from all serving officers, and I know that the candidates we have promoted will lead by example and promote confidence within our communities.”

Acting Commissioner Ian Blair said:

“I welcome everyone promoted to their new posts. These officers have proven leadership skills gained over years of valuable and diverse experience which will stand them in good stead in their demanding new roles in the MPS.“ 

Notes to editors

1. Biographical Notes

Commander Carole Howlett

Carole Howlett joined the West Yorkshire Police in 1976. She attended the Special Course in 1982 and transferred to the Metropolitan Police in 1984. She has worked both in uniformed and plain clothes posts, in operational and strategic planning roles and in rural and inner city environments. Commander Howlett was responsible for the Metropolitan Police response to the Sheehy Enquiry and at Chief Inspector rank undertook an MBA at Warwick University. Having attended the Strategic Command Course in 1995 she was promoted to Commander in September 1996 and currently serves in the serious Crime Group at New Scotland Yard. She has the lead within the MPS for Child Protection issues, Family Liaison development and Forced Marriages, and is responsible for the investigation of murder in South London. 

Commander Howlett is Chair of the Association of Senior Women Officers (ASWO).

Assistant Chief Constable Stephen House

Stephen House joined Sussex Police in 1981. He served in Brighton from 1982 until 1988 as a uniformed Constable, then transferring to Northamptonshire Police on promotion to Sergeant, working at both Headquarters and various divisions. He transferred to West Yorkshire Police as a Superintendent in 1994. In that force he served latterly as Divisional Commander in Bradford City Centre. He joined Staffordshire Police as ACC (territorial) in 1998.

His present portfolio is the operations post involving responsibility for crime, criminal justice, operational support and professional standards. He commanded the policing operation around the Northern Ireland peace process in Staffordshire and has also taken command of animal rights protests, football matches and serious disorder in Stoke-on-Trent this year.

On the national scene he has led for the Service on the introduction of the Criminal Records Bureau. 

Chief Superintendent David Armond

David Armond joined the Metropolitan Police in 1976, working as a uniformed Constable in Newham until 1979 when he was selected for the crime squad. Promoted to Sergeant in 1980, he was posted to Tower Hamlets where he worked both in uniformed and plain clothes posts, including periods on the crime squad, the District Support Unit, the vice squad and as a street duties trainer. Promoted to Inspector in 1986 he transferred to Southwark and was subsequently selected for the Territorial Support Group in southeast London. He was promoted to Chief Inspector in 1992 and posted to the Central Command Complex at New Scotland Yard. He transferred to Stoke Newington Division in Hackney in 1994 where he was tasked with establishing a criminal justice unit for the Division. In 1996 he transferred to Barking and Dagenham Division as the operations manager and deputy divisional commander. He was promoted to Superintendent in 1997, Chief Superintendent in 1998 and appointed as the Borough Commander for Camden in January 1999. He remained in post until January of this year, when he took up a temporary role as acting Commander, Territorial Policing in northeast London. 

Chief Superintendent David Armond is also a trained Security Coordinator, and a member of the SO13 (anti-terrorist branch) CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) command cadre, developed as a counter terrorism contingency in response to the Tokyo Sarin gas attack.

Detective Chief Superintendent André Baker

André (Andy) Baker joined the Metropolitan Police in 1975 after a short spell as a Cadet. Following his probationary training he was posted to Chelsea. He has served at every rank throughout central and south London, including Kensington, Steatham, Brixton, Clapham, Orpington, Greenwich, Lewisham, Catford and at New Scotland Yard, and on specialist squads. He has worked in partnership with Lewisham Borough staff on crime and disorder and, for the last two years, has been the senior detective in South London.

He is a trained hostage negotiator and has been deployed as such throughout London as well as abroad when British hostages have been involved. He has been involved in a number of high profile investigations including murders, civil unrest and other serious crimes. He has attended the FBI National Academy programme in Virginia, USA on their International Law Enforcement course and has also attended their siege-training programme.

Detective Chief Superintendent Baker is the Chair of the South East London branch of the Superintendent’s Association, the London representative on the Crime Advisory Group of the National Superintendent’s Association.

Chief Superintendent Robert Broadhurst

Robert Broadhurst joined the Metropolitan Police in 1977 and was accepted onto the graduate entry scheme, serving his probation in Belgravia. Promoted to Sergeant in 1980 he moved to Holborn as a relief supervisor, he was then promoted to Inspector in 1983 and served in Southwark and Peckham before transferring to the newly formed Territorial Support group in 1987. He was promoted to Chief Inspector in 1989 and served at Woolwich and Plumstead before becoming Staff Officer to first a Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 1993 and then a full Assistant Commissioner in 1994. In 1995 he transferred to Sutton and Epsom Division where he set up the new Criminal Justice Unit, being promoted to Superintendent in 1996 and then Chief Superintendent in 1997 and appointed as Divisional Commander. During this period he was responsible for policing the Epsom Derby.

He attended the Strategic Command Course in 2000 and later transferred to Lambeth where he became Operations Manager. He has been part of the Public Order Cadre for 11 years and is a trained Hostage Negotiator. 

Chief Superintendent Alan Given

Alan Given joined the Metropolitan Police in 1974 after two years serving in the Police cadet Corp. He was promoted to Sergeant in 1979 and spent some time working in the Vice Unit before promotion to Inspector in 1984, which saw him working in areas such as training and the Territorial Support Group. Becoming Chief Inspector in 1990, Alan served as Operations Chief Inspector at Twickenham , taking responsibility for the policing arrangements for the 1991 rugby world cup. He has acted as Staff Officer to both a Deputy Assistant Commissioner and an Assistant Commissioner, and been Operations Chief Inspector at Heathrow Airport with responsibility for security arrangements. He became Superintendent in 1997 and spent time as operations Superintendent at Wimbledon with particular responsibility for the tennis championships, being promoted to Chief Superintendent in 1998 in which role he was in command of operations with responsibility for a large staff including all south London Territorial Support Groups, traffic officers, dog handlers and traffic wardens. He has latterly served as Borough Commander for Kingston and as head of the Metropolitan Police recruitment Taskforce. 

He successfully completed a three years Masters degree in Management in 2000.

Superintendent Shabir Hussain

Shabir Hussain joined the Metropolitan Police in 1984, being promoted to Sergeant in 1990 and moving to Belgravia Division where he worked in the Area Complaints Unit amongst other duties. He was promoted to Inspector in 1993, moving to Paddington Green Division, where he managed the terrorism suite. Moving to become a Commander’s Staff Officer at New Scotland Yard in 1995, he was promoted in 1997 to Chief Inspector working on 24 Hour Response, Traffic, ACPO Terroism and the Allied Matters Committee. 

Superintendent Shabir Hussain was promoted to his current rank in 1999 and worked on GLA/MPA preparation, SRB funding and crime reduction, moving to Merton Division to become Deputy to the Borough Command Unit Commander (BCU Cdr) and Operations Manager, also participating in graduate entrant interviews and misconduct hearings.

Chief Superintendent Stephen Otter 

Stephen Otter joined Thames Valley Police, Maidenhead Division, as a Constable in 1982. He then spent 3 years as an Inspector in the Royal Hong Kong Police in command of a team of 70 officers and as a Detective Inspector leading a divisional CID team. 

He became a member of the Metropolitan Police in 1989 and was promoted to Sergeant in 1991 becoming a Sector Team Leader, Kensington, during which time he was attached to the Sector Policing Project Team and the Performance Information Bureau at New Scotland Yard. He was promoted to Inspector, serving as Sector Inspector in Holloway, in 1994, moving to the Strategic Planning Unit at New Scotland yard in 1995 where he was promoted to Chief Inspector, moving then to become Operations manager in West End Central in 1997 when he was once again promoted, this time to Superintendent, becoming Operations Manager in Fulham where his duties included the policing of Fulham and Chelsea football clubs. 

He became Divisional Commander of Notting Hill on promotion to Chief Superintendent in 1998 and moved to become Borough Commander of Kensington and Chelsea in 1999. He has recently attended the Strategic Command Course. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Robert Quick

Robert Quick joined the Metropolitan Police in 1978 and after initial training was posted to Lambeth. In 1982 he was appointed Detective Constable and posted to Brixton CID. Promoted to Sergeant in 1984 he served on Catford Division as both uniform and Detective Sergeant. In this later role he served on the South East Drugs Squad from 1989-90. On promotion to Detective Inspector he served in Vauxhall Division where he won a Police Scholarship and read for an MBA at Exeter University, graduating with distinction. In 1995 he implemented and led the South East London Crime Squad dealing with armed robbery and burglary. Promoted to detective Chief Inspector in 1996 he became Staff Officer to Assistant Commissioner Ian Johnston at 4 Area Headquarters and was then promoted to Superintendent in 1998 and posted to Peckham Division.

During 1998 he was seconded to the Commissioner’s Private Office, working to Sir Paul Condon in preparing the MPS response to the Macpherson Public Inquiry, at the same time assisting in the development of the MPS’s Diversity Strategy. In 1999 he was appointed Detective Superintendent to lead the CIB3 anti-corruption operations and was appointed Commander of the Anti-Corruption Command the following year. He attended the Strategic Command Course this year. 

2. The Metropolitan Police Authority has a role in the appointment, discipline and removal of senior Metropolitan Police officers.

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