Kenneth Newman - Commissioner

Commissioner

Newman's appointment as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1982 came at a time when the Met was under intense public and media scrutiny. Newman subsequently initiated one of the most major reform campaigns the Met had ever undertaken. Amongst his initiatives were:

• disbanding the controversial Special Patrol Group and replacement with the better trained and equipped Territorial Support Group
• the establishment of Area-based policing, divesting the centralised officers and resources of New Scotland Yard into eight geographical areas
• publishing Principles of Policing to replace the traditional Standing Orders, with the assistance of the new MPS Policy Committee, changing the fundamental guidelines for policing in London for the first time in 150 years

Newman also spoke out against the prevalence of Freemasonry in the police, although a police Freemason's Lodge, the Manor of St James, was set up and flourished shortly after his comments.

Newman retired in 1987, his reforms paving the way for his successor, Sir Peter Imbert, to implement further reforms known as the PLUS Programme.