Barbara Gray (police officer)
Barbara Gray is a senior police officer in the United Kingdom. Serving with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) from 1989 onwards, it was announced in February 2021 that she will transfer to the Metropolitan Police as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner later in 2021 to fill a post left vacant by Lucy D'Orsi's appointment as Chief Constable of the British Transport Police.[1][2]
Life
Growing up outside Newry and studying Geography and English at the Jordanstown campus of Ulster University, she was inspired to join the PSNI when one of its officers was killed by a car-bomb outside her house when she was 14.[3] She was promoted to Sergeant in 1994, moving from Dungannon to Enniskillen and then to Antrim on her promotion to Inspector (2002).[3]
Her promotion to Chief Inspector in 2006 brought with it an appointment as Area Commander for Ballymena, prior to service as Superintendent for Armagh, Newry and Down from 2009 then for A District (i.e. north and west Belfast) from 2011.[3] Promotion to Chief Superintendent came in 2014.[3] She became Temporary Assistant Chief Constable in 2017, with responsibility as strategic commander for public order, firearms and CBRN response before being confirmed in that rank in June 2020.[3][4]
References
- ^ "PSNI's most senior female officer ACC Barbara Gray to join Metropolitan Police". Irish News. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "New Deputy Assistant Commissioner appointed". Metropolitan Police. 1 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e McNeilly, Claire (21 January 2019). "PSNI's highest ranking woman on Troubles murder that made her join police". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ Halliday, Gillian (1 February 2021). "ACC Barbara Gray to take up senior role in London Met". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2021.