Meredydd Hughes QPM Chief Constable South Yorkshire Police

Meredydd Hughes joined the South Wales Constabulary in 1979, on leaving university. Whilst predominately serving in uniform operational duties at all levels, he has also worked as the Force Crime Prevention Officer; as an authorised firearms officer; as an IT project manager and on secondment to the HMIC at the Home Office.

He transfered to West Yorkshire Police in 1995 as a Superintendent with the post of Divisional Commander in the Calder Valley. This was followed by two years as the Commander of the Operational Support Division, where he was responsible for units such as the Air Support Unit, Search and Firearms Teams, and the Mounted Section. He was also Silver Commander at Leeds United FC, and led cross-border operations and major firearms incidents.

Promoted in 1999 to Assistant Chief Constable in Greater Manchester Police, he initially took responsibility for IT, Criminal Justice, and Communications. In September 2000, he took charge of the Uniform Operations Portfolio, and in that role led the policing of numerous public order and major sporting events, including two England football internationals, and commanded the successful planning and delivery of the Commonwealth Games.

He was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in South Yorkshire in September 2002, and to Chief Constable in September 2004. Nationally, he plays the leading role for ACPO in the Uniformed Operations Business Area and is ACPO lead for support to the Olympic Games 2012.

He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2006 New Year Honours.

Off duty, his hobbies include rock climbing and mountaineering, running, and mountain biking.