B. J. Harrington, QPM

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B. J. Harrington, QPM

Essex Police

Chief Constable

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Having joined the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1990 as a Police Constable in Walthamstow Northeast London BJ served across London for 27 years in a variety of ranks and roles. Throughout this time, he has been involved in public order policing at every level and across many arenas. As a PC, PSU Commander, Bronze, Silver and Gold he has been a part of numerous high profile public order operations and was part of the HMICFRS Inspection team following the 2011 riots.

As Commander for Public Order in the MPS he led the policy and operational oversight for London Region as well as being Gold for many large scale spontaneous and planned operations. He led the NPCC events portfolio, the Training Tactics and Equipment Working Group, the Public Order and Public Safety Portfolio and now sits as Chair for the National Operations Coordination Committee.

BJ transferred to Essex as the temporary Deputy Chief Constable in 2017 leading to him taking over as Essex Chief Constable in 2018.

Through the POPS portfolio and supported by colleagues across public order policing BJ has led the response to HMICFRS inspections, helped develop the public order response for the UK and worked with the Home Office to progress and develop legislation and policy surrounding public order. Most recently he took up the role as National Coordination Gold for Op Navette where he was integral in the coordination and response of national resources to mass serious disorder across the country.

Throughout a long career he has continued to champion public order and public safety policing supported by NPCC and the College of Policing and is a firm believer that it is one of the most complex and multi-faceted areas of policing that is often overlooked and misunderstood.

After 5 years as the NPOPS lead BJ is excited to move onto the next chapter of his career as the Chair for the National Operations Coordination Committee.

This role will see him overseeing on behalf of the NPCC – Armed Policing, Aviation, Aviation Security & Airport Policing, Civil Contingencies, General Maritime, Hostage & Crisis negotiation, Manchester Arena Inquiry V2, Police & Fire collaboration, Roads Policing, Self-defence & Restraint and of course Public Order Public Safety.

BJ holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Police Leadership and Management from Leicester University and is a Graduate of the Leadership School for Government National Leadership Programme and was awarded the Queens Police Medal in the 2022 New Year’s Honours.