Meredydd Hughes
Encyclopedia
Meredydd Hughes QPM
was a Chief Constable
of South Yorkshire Police
. He took up the post on 1 September 2004.
in 1979, and was transferred to West Yorkshire Police
in 1995 to a position of Superintendent
. He was again promoted in 1999 to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable
of Greater Manchester Police
. In 2002 he moved to South Yorkshire Police
to take over the position of Deputy Chief Constable
, before becoming the force's Chief Constable
in 2004. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
in 2006.
During his career Hughes has held a number of operational responsibilities, including work as a firearms officer
, IT Project manager, and Silver Commander
of games held at Leeds United A.F.C.
As a senior manager, he has been responsible for Operational Support, Uniform Operations, Press & PR, Professional Standards and Information Systems during various stages of his career.
As a member of ACPO, he was the Chair of Roads Policing Enforcement Technology Committee and Vice chair of the National Operations Forum and Chair of the Drivers Project (placing new databases such as Drivers and motor insurance records on PNC
), until resigning the post in December 2007.
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...
was a 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 South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing South Yorkshire in England.The police force covers an area of approximately 1,554 square kilometres which is made up of the county's three boroughs , along with the City of Sheffield. The resident population is 1.2...
. He took up the post on 1 September 2004.
Career overview
Hughes started his career at South Wales ConstabularySouth Wales Police
South Wales Police is one of the four territorial police forces in Wales. Its headquarters are based in Bridgend.Covering Wales' capital city, Cardiff, as well as Bridgend, Merthyr Tydfil, Swansea, and the western South Wales Valleys, it is the largest police force in Wales in terms of population,...
in 1979, and was transferred to West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing West Yorkshire in England. It is the fourth largest force in England and Wales by number of officers, with 5671 officers....
in 1995 to a position of 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...
. He was again promoted in 1999 to the rank of 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...
of Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
. In 2002 he moved to South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police
South Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing South Yorkshire in England.The police force covers an area of approximately 1,554 square kilometres which is made up of the county's three boroughs , along with the City of Sheffield. The resident population is 1.2...
to take over the position of Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy Chief Constable
Deputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
, before becoming the force's 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...
in 2004. 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...
in 2006.
During his career Hughes has held a number of operational responsibilities, including work as a firearms officer
Authorised Firearms Officer
An Authorised Firearms Officer is a British police officer who has received training and authorisation to carry and use firearms. The designation is significant because within the United Kingdom, police officers do not routinely carry firearms...
, IT Project manager, and Silver Commander
Gold Silver Bronze command structure
A gold–silver–bronze command structure is used by emergency services of the United Kingdom to establish a hierarchical framework for the command and control of major incidents and disasters...
of games held at Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
As a senior manager, he has been responsible for Operational Support, Uniform Operations, Press & PR, Professional Standards and Information Systems during various stages of his career.
As a member of ACPO, he was the Chair of Roads Policing Enforcement Technology Committee and Vice chair of the National Operations Forum and Chair of the Drivers Project (placing new databases such as Drivers and motor insurance records on PNC
Police National Computer
The Police National Computer is a computer system used extensively by law enforcement organisations across the United Kingdom. It went live in 1974 and now consists of several databases available 24 hours a day, giving access to information of national and local significance.From October 2009, the...
), until resigning the post in December 2007.
Traffic controversy
Hughes has attracted considerable press attention through being prosecuted for Road Traffic Offences, particularly as he was Chair of the Roads Policing Enforcement Technology Committee for ACPO, and is an outspoken supporter of hidden and mobile Speed Cameras. He resigned his ACPO chair as a result of the speeding conviction made on December 5, 2007. His offences include:- Failing to identify the driver of one of South Yorkshire PoliceSouth Yorkshire PoliceSouth Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing South Yorkshire in England.The police force covers an area of approximately 1,554 square kilometres which is made up of the county's three boroughs , along with the City of Sheffield. The resident population is 1.2...
's vehicles caught breaking the speed limit. This led to the unusual situation of the Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief 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...
prosecuting himself. - Two personal convictions for exceeding the speed limit, leading to fines and his licence being endorsed with 6 penalty points.
- A 42-day driving ban and fine imposed by Wrexham Magistrates Court for exceeding the speed limit in North WalesNorth WalesNorth Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, on December 5, 2007.