Dr. Steve Watts

Experience

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  Hampshire Constabulary

  Dec 1976 - Sept 2008

  Key member of the top team responsible for the leadership and strategic direction of one of the largest non metropolitan police forces in the UK. In 2005 one of the highest performing forces in England and Wales, producing the lowest burglary rate for 31 years and the lowest vehicle crime rate in 24 years. Also first place in respect of key crime indicators across the ‘family of forces’ and third highest nationally in respect of public satisfaction rating, and according to the British crime Survey the safest place in EnglandSignificant command experience. 'Gold' strategic command of critical incidents, and major puiblic events including Farborough International Air Shows and the 'Trafalgar 200' international naval fleet review. Particular responsibility for Specialist Policing response. Direct line command of +/- 2000 Officers and Staff. Main responsibilities;Serious, Organised and Major Crime; Child Abuse investigation; Counter Terrorism, Strategic Roads Policing, Firearms Response, Public Order, Maritime and Air Support; Forensic Services; Critical incident & Crisis management; Major & Sporting Event Management.Criminal JusticeActive member of the Association of Chief Police Officers (England & Wales), with a significant number of national responsibities;- Vice Chair Homicide Working Group leading best practice in murder investigation.-National Lead - investigation of death in healthcare establishments.-Officer in Overall Command of 'Operation Anagram' UK wide serial killer investigation.-National Lead for Investigative Interviewing.-Member of UK national Terrorism committee, incl.Counter Terrorism Co Ordination lead for the South East of England, Umpire on National CT Exercises-National lead for the Security of Emergency Service Vehicles.-National Lead for Police Maritime Operations, setting standards in the UK police maritime response with partners working to protect the UK maritime domain. Show less Head of the criminal investigation department. Responsible for Detectives and support staff distributed across six domains; Divisional CID, Scientific Services, Specialist Investigations, Intelligence Directorate, Major Crime Deparrtment, and Special Branch. Strategic responsibility for criminal investigation across the Force area. Drove through a cultural change in the CID in terms of a quality approach to service delivery within an adapted EFQM model, aligning the CID to the operations and objectives of the organisation.At the forefront, nationally of implementing changes in Detective training and standardisation of investigative processes, including implementation of the National Intelligence Model. Drove the Force to pilot for the Initial Criminal Investigation Development Programme and the ‘Professionalising the Investigative Process’ programme, driving up investigative standards locally and nationally.A member of ACPO (Homicide), contributing to national developments in the standards of investigation in Homicide enquiries; ACPO (Homicide) lead on national Police guidance on the investigation of deaths in healthcare settings, at the same time developing a protocol between the Police Service and the Health Service in respect of Police Investigations in healthcare settings. Chair of the group developing guidance in respect of offences occuruing on UK ships overseas. ACPO lead on Work related Deaths.Director of the independant Centre for International Forensic Assistance, providing forensic investigative support to areas across the world in respect of war crimes and human rights abuses. This followed a period in 2000 as the lead for War Crimes Investigation in KosovoSIO then ‘Gold’ in respect of the investigation into allegations of homicide by health care staff in respect of 100+ patients in a geriatric ward. A case that has a national profile and has required negotiation at a national and Government level. Show less Responsible for the management of criminal investigations and investigative quality control across six Police basic command units in the east of the Force. In particular ensuring that major crime was properly resourced and that procedures are complied with in respect of investigative policy and decision-making. In cases of homicide assumed the role of Senior Investigating Officer with ultimate responsibility for the investigation. During this period responsible for the sucessful investigation of 24 homicide. At the same time involved in policy development relating to investigative issues at a Force level and National level. Chair and member of strategic fora in Force including, Disclosure issues, Major Crime Resourcing and Financing, Operations Management Board, author of the Major Crime Co-ordination Policy. At a National level: ACPO (Crime) Participating Informants Group and the International Forensic Assistance Board, development, authorship, implementation and evaluation of the ACPO policy on the provision of information in respect of life sentence prisoners by the Police Service. Between April and October, 2000 seconded to Foreign & Commonwealth Office as the UK Police Co-ordinator for War Crimes Investigation (Kosovo) 2000. Responsible throughout that period for leading the British Forensic Team in Kosovo. The position required strategic and operational management and negotiation at a high level with the United Nations, the interim government of Kosovo, non-governmental organizations and the military to achieve a high quality evidential product for the prosecution of War Criminals. At the same time built a cohesive and productive team operating in a physically and psychologically difficult foreign environment. Later, developed a strategic review leading to changes in Foreign Office War Crimes investigation deployment policy, and the formation of the Centre for International Forensic Assistance (CIFA) of which he remains a director. Show less Operation ‘MAINE’; working directly with the Chief Constable on a long-term major enquiry into criminal and disciplinary allegations concerning another Police Force relating to the management of informants involving Police Officers and other agencies of all ranks up to and including ACPO Officers and the equivalent. Directly responsible for management of the operational resources, human, physical and financial as well as developing and directing investigative policy and strategy in conjunction with the Chief Constable. Considerable managerial and interpersonal skills were required to deal with persons ranging from High Court Judges and Counsel, senior CPS staff including the DPP, PCA members, senior members of the Immigration Service and HMC&E in addition to very senior Police Officers in the roles of suspect, witnesses and third parties to the enquiry. Author of the report of the enquiry that made recommendations which led to significant changes in national policy on informant handling and recruitment and to national immigration policy. Show less Responsible for the management of 142 Police and support staff providing a comprehensive policing service to a provincial town and surrounding rural area (popn. 65,000). This included the financial management of devolved budgets to provide a high-quality policing service. Responsible for the research and authorship of the Annual Service Plan in consultation with stakeholders, including the public, partner agencies and Police staff within the framework of the Force strategic plan. Then motivating staff and putting in place systems to carry through the Plan with appropriate monitoring and evaluation. In operational terms, involved Policing in the A34 protests and in planning the Policing of the 1997 General Election.Responsible for developing a number of initiatives, including the introduction of a co-ordinated approach to 'Enforcing the Peace’ issues with the establishment of one of the first ‘Tasking & Co Ordinating Groups’. The promotion of ‘Service Quality’ issues to the Division, including preparation of a ‘Charter Mark Award’ application which led to the Charter Mark being awarded to Andover Division by the Cabinet Office, the Division thereby becoming only the second Police BCU in the Country to receive the award. Show less Responsible for the management of intelligence-led operations across the northern area of the Force and for ensuring that systems and strategies were in place to effectively acquire, develop, action and disseminate Criminal Intelligence across the area. This included liaison with other Forces, SERCS, NCIS and HMC&E. Also responsible for evaluation, authorization and monitoring all requests for technical equipment and Participation/ UC made in that area, and the quality control of informant-handling systems across the area.Author of the Force Policy in relation to Informant and Intelligence management and to the introduction of an improved information gathering strategy in Sexual Offence investigations. Also developed an Intelligence Cell model for response to armed-siege situations with the objective, by overt and covert methods Show less Joined the Hampshire Constabulary in December 1976, two years as Uniform Police Patrol Constable, then in 1980, appointed to Criminal Investigation Department. Working in local and Forcewide investigative roles, promoted to Detective Sergeant, during which period attached to the Regional Crime Squad, forerunner of SOCA investigating serious and organised crime. Then Detective Inspector crime manager for a busy policing Division, during this period secconded to the University of Surrey where he attained an MSc in Investigative Psychology (including Criminal Behaviour, Decision Making and Investigative Interview themes where Psychology can advise the investigative process). Promoted to Detective Chief Inspector shortly afterwards. Show less

  • Assistant Chief Constable

    Jan 2005 - Sept 2008

  • Head of CID and Criminal Investigation(Detective Chief Superintendent)

    Jun 2001 - Jan 2005

  • Detective Superintendant (Principal SIO)

    Nov 1998 - Jun 2001

  • Detective Chief Inspector (Major Crime)

    May 1997 - Nov 1998

  • Deputy Divisional Police Commander

    Aug 1996 - May 1997

  • Detective Chief Inspector (Operations)

    Sept 1994 - Aug 1996

  • Various Policing roles Constable - Detective Inspector

    Dec 1976 - Aug 1994
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  Centre for International Forensic Assistance

  Sept 2004 - Sept 2011

  Director
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  Abu Dhabi Police, United Arab Emirates

  Sept 2008 - Nov 2011

  Chief Strategic Policing Advisor

  Working directly to the top team of this highly ambitious organisation seeking to be one of the most operationally effective Police Forces in the world in one of the safest countries within 5 years. I provided consultancy that drove strategic, organisational and operational development and change across the whole spectrum of policing activity, including Strategic management, Performance Management, Community Policing, Response Policing, Traffic Policing, Crime Investigation, Critical Incident & Crisis Management and Event Planning and management. This was achieved with direct leadership and management of 70+ mainly UK ex- patriate strategic policing experts embedded in the various Directorates and supervision of projects by external commercial consultancies. Show less

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  SAW Associates Ltd

  Jan 2012 - now

  Director

  Delivering high quality consultancy, advice and solutions across the spectrum of Criminal Justice, Policing, Security and Counter Terrorism domains.

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  University of Greenwich

  Feb 2012 - Jan 2014

  Visiting Lecturer (MSc Maritime Crime coordinator)
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  City Security and Resilience Network

  Nov 2012 - Aug 2018

  Associate Director

  The leading UK based business security and resilience membership network. Bringing together public and private sector leaders, as a not-for-profit enterprise, CSARN is an award winning business security and staff safety advisory service. We achieve this through providing business intelligence, educational networking events, training and specialist project management

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  ITAL

  Nov 2012 - Aug 2018

  Associate Partner (Policing Applications)

  ITAL takes pride in its innovation and application of technology. Constantly striving to provide a service that compares with the best in its informatics, pricing and customer care. Identifying high quality applications in the policing and security spheres.

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  European Union

  Jun 2013 - Sept 2016

  Special Counsellor; Strategic Leadership and Planning/ HR Management

  Lead for Strategic Planning & Performance Management strand of the EU Twinning project to the MoI of the Republic of Serbia and latterly HR Development focussed upon delivering effective Policing. Supporting the Strategic development of the government of Serbia as it moved towards EU accession

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  Ethica Solutions

  Jan 2015 - Mar 2019

  Director

  Director Ethica Solutions Ltd. A professional consultancy safeguarding the reputation of organisations by protecting children.

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  International Security Expo 2019

  May 2017 - now

  Advisory Board Member

  Providing advice to the board regarding this international security exhibition held annually in London, UK.

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  Policing Insight

  Jun 2019 - now

  Director

  Policing Insight; a digital publication whose content covers the full width of policing and criminal justice topics including policy, practice, crime and technology via articles, reports and our valuable Media Monitor service, a searchable database of news, analysis, opinion and reports from national, local and specialist press as well all the key policing and criminal justice organisations. Readers and contributors reflect collaboration between police and criminal justice organisations, the third sector, industry and academia to find progressive solutions to the significant challenges in policing and criminal justice. Show less

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  Bondi Surf Bathers Life Saving Club

  Aug 2019 - Oct 2022

  Member Disciplinary Panel (Volunteer)

  Member of the Club disciplinary panel providing quasi judicial judgements in referred cases.

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  Kudos Knowledge Pty Ltd

  Aug 2019 - now

  Advisory Board Member

  Providing Policing & Law Enforcement advice to the board of Kudos Knowledge in respect of innovative technological solutions in challenging domains.

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  DARIS Group

  Mar 2020 - May 2020

  Strategic Consultant

  Providing security consultancy to NSW Government regarding the COVID -19 quarantine response.

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  NICE Ltd

  Aug 2020 - now

  Senior Policing Advisor

  Senior Policing Advisor to NICE Systems APAC, working to deliver effective Digital Investigation Solutions to Law Enforcement in addition to the Public & Private Sectors.

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  Charles Sturt University

  Oct 2020 - May 2022

  Lecturer in Policing Studies
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  Law Enforcement Conduct Commission

  Jul 2022 - Jul 2023

  Senor Investigator

  Senior Investigator with the primary role of reviewing misconduct and corruption investigation and management in NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission.

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  Office of the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption

  Apr 2024 - now

  Senior Operations Officer

  Providing advice and consultancy in investigations and operations.