Sir
David Veness
CBE, QPM
Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, Metropolitan police
In office
1994–2005
Succeeded byAndy Hayman
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security
In office
2005–2008
Personal details
Born
David Christopher Veness

London
ProfessionPolice officer

Sir David Christopher Veness, CBE, QPM is a British former senior police officer and United Nations official. He served as Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police from 1994–2005, leaving to serve as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security.[1][2]

Early life and police career

Veness was educated at Raynes Park High School, London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained Master of Arts and Master of Laws degrees. [2][3]

After two years as a police cadet, he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1966, transferring to the Criminal Investigation Department in 1969, serving in various roles across London and at the Met's headquarters, Scotland Yard.[2] Veness trained as a negotiator in 1979, directing the Met's negotiator course from 1980–87, a role which placed him on the negotiating team at the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege and in which he was lead negotiator in the siege of the Libyan embassy following the murder of Yvonne Fletcher as well as advising on other incidents worldwide.[2][4] Promoted to commander in 1987, Veness went on to head the Protection Command, responsible for the protection of royalty and politicians before assuming the role of Commander Public Order, Territorial Security and Operational Support followed by promotion to Deputy Assistant Commissioner at Specialist Operations in November 1991.[2]

Veness was further promoted to Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations on 5 April 1994.[2] He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours,[5] appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours,[6] and knighted in the 2005 New Year Honours.[7] He received the accolade from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.[8]

United Nations

On 13 January 2005 the UN announced that Veness was to become the first Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Safety and Security.[2] He left the Met later in 2005, succeeded in his role by Andy Hayman. Veness resigned his UN post in June 2008 after an internal investigation into a terrorist attack on Algiers in which his department was heavily criticised.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 McElroy, Damien (25 June 2008). "Top British official quits UN over Algeria bombing blunders". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "David Veness, Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security". United Nations. 13 January 2005. Archived from the original on 23 July 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Sir David Veness: Mr Security". BBC News. BBC. 31 December 2004. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  4. ↑ Bone, James (25 June 2008). "Sir David Veness quits as head of UN security over Algiers bombing". The Times. Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  5. ↑ "No. 53696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 June 1994. p. 28.
  6. ↑ "No. 55879". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 June 2000. p. 9.
  7. ↑ "No. 57509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2004. p. 1.
  8. ↑ "No. 57737". The London Gazette. 23 August 2005. pp. 10898–10899.
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