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Norman Bettison

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Sir Norman Bettison (born 3 January 1956, Rotherham, South Yorkshire) is a British career police officer.

Career

Bettison joined the West Yorkshire Police at age 16, as a cadet. He served through the ranks, and in 1993 was appointed Assistant Chief Constable.[1].

He left West Yorkshire in 1998 to become Chief Constable of Merseyside Police [2] and enjoyed a six year appointment [3]. This was despite a difficult introduction when it was reported that Sir Norman had been involved in the investigation of the Hillsborough Stadium disaster, a controversial situation due to belief among some Liverpudlians that the investigation had been biased against Liverpool fans.[4] He offered to meet with relations of those who lost their lives at Hillsborough to defuse the controversy [5].

He retired from the police at that point – January 2005 – and became Chief Executive of an organisation called Centrex, a Non-Departmental Public Body which provided training and development to Police Forces in the UK and has Enforcement Agencies throughout the world [6].

In 2006 Bettison was seconded to work on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers in assisting Police Forces in preparation for the amalgamation programme proposed by the Government [7]. The resignation of Charles Clarke as Home Secretary later that year coincided with a Government u-turn on the proposed mergers [8].

Sir Norman rejoined the Police Service in January 2007 on his appointment as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police, the fourth largest Force in the country [9]: an unprecedented step for a retired Chief Constable to rejoin the Service in a similar rank. He attempted to secure a package simultaneously to receive retirement pension from Merseyside and salary from the new post; he threatened legal action but the claim was settled out of court.[10].


Achievements

Despite leaving school with only 3 ‘O’ Levels, Sir Norman later read Philosophy and Psychology at the University of Oxford[11]. He also took a second Masters Degree in Business Administration at Sheffield Hallam University[12].

He was made an Honorary Fellow of Liverpool John Moores University in 2004[13]. In the Millennium New Years Honours list Sir Norman was awarded the Queen's Police Medal[14] and, in 2006 he received a Knighthood[15].

References

  1. ^ Yorkshire Post Newspaper article - 8th February 1993 (appointment) / 1st May 1993 (start date).
  2. ^ Liverpool Echo Newspaper article - around 7th September 1998.
  3. ^ Liverpool Echo Newspaper article - 2004.
  4. ^ Police chief rejects Hillsborough claims, BBC News, November 16, 1998
  5. ^ Daily Telegraph Article - 16th November 1998.
  6. ^ Centrex Annual Report - 2005-2006.
  7. ^ Police Review / Policing Today - around May/June 2006.
  8. ^ The Times - about 10th June 2006 (front page)
  9. ^ Securzine - Weekly Newspaper for Security Supplies
  10. ^ Police chief in legal battle to take pension on top of payThe Times, December 21, 2007
  11. ^ Academic Registers
  12. ^ Academic Registers
  13. ^ Liverpool Echo last week in May 2004
  14. ^ BBC Birthday Honours List 2000
  15. ^ Telegraph Newspaper : Knights Bachelor (PDF)

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