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MEET YOUR NEW DCCI’M a pEOplE pERsON aND I fIND pEOplE INTEREsTINg.

Nearly two months into his new job with the constabulary, Deputy Chief Constable graham McNulty is already making his mark. Previously a one-force officer – the former Metropolitan Police commander spent 22 years working in London – Mr McNulty, 44, is making a concerted effort to meet people across the force. Approachable and engaging, the guildford-born man believes in the importance of discussing and understanding the issues affecting those officers and staff at the coalface. Here, he talks to Frontline’s Aaron Brown about his life in policing.

The chief constable is the face of the

force, and that’s the right way for it to be, but for me to do my job properly I’ve got to understand the issues that everyone faces in the organisation. You can only do that by talking to them.

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Why did you want to join the police?

I had done a degree in economics and thought I was set for a life in the City. But I wasn’t sure I wanted to sit behind a computer screen in the capital all day. Instead I thought about what my father had done – he was a police officer with Surrey Police for 33 years – and that looked more exciting, more challenging. I thought “I want to do that”, much to my mother’s concern!

What was it like being a rookie when you joined the Met in 1992?

I started out in policing thinking I’d be in Westminster, Brixton, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and I ended up right on the outskirts of London. Two years later I left to join the Territorial Support Group [providing strategic reserve for public disorder and critical incident response]. That was a big change, a really different environment. The TSG took you all over London and I got to experience policing some of the more challenging areas. I’m very proud of that time and the camaraderie we shared in that group.

Do you miss that?

I do. Working in a team like that, where you shared every shift together, you were close. As a chief officer you’re part of a team but you’re not working day to day with the same group of people.

You’ve been responsible for a number of high-profile inquiries. Tell us more.

Operation Ribble was the “cash for honours” case in which we investigated the connection between political donations and the award of life peerages. It changed my career because I was about to go and work on a surveillance command when I got a call from the assistant commissioner saying, “Graham, you’re going to be investigating cash for honours.” There followed a really intense three years, culminating in me interviewing the then prime minister Tony Blair on a number of occasions. I remember sitting inside 10 Downing Street thinking, “When I joined the police I didn’t think I’d ever end up here!”.

You also led the Met’s response to Operation Yewtree. What’s your reaction been to that case?

I think Yewtree is a moment in time. If we look at the reporting of sexual offences and sexual offences against children, we know they are under reported. We know that for the victims it’s really difficult to come forward. I think there’s a lasting legacy around Yewtree because since

the investigation started reports have gone up; people are telling us more about sexual offences. Whether it is Child Sexual Exploitation, rape or any other crime, people need to know that we’ll treat them seriously – 20 years on the police will still be there for them.

Why Hampshire Constabulary? Why now?

Not everyone working here will realise this but Hampshire Constabulary has a really good reputation among other forces. When I went on a senior command course I was given a project looking at Hampshire, which entailed me coming into the force and talking to people. What stuck with me was how helpful people were, really friendly. I returned from holiday earlier in the year, saw the vacancy for the DCC role and the rest is history.

How does it feel working here compared with the Met?

It’s different because there are around 50,000 people in the Met. The size of that organisation means it’s really difficult to get around and know people. What’s really good about coming to Hampshire is how open people have been, which has made it much easier to get to know teams and individuals and their issues.

What have been your first impressions of the constabulary?

Professional, friendly and with people who have wanted to help and support me. The only negative is the police jargon we use – I didn’t realise it varied so much from force to force! To the public the policing language is pretty impenetrable, so this is something we need to work at.

What’s impressed you about the force?

Lots, but one that is fresh in my mind is the Resolution Centre. I spent time there seeing the way we’re managing demand for the front line – not deploying a police officer unless there is a genuine need to do so. When Tom Winsor published his recent report he talked about how a lot of forces don’t have a plan to manage demand. Hampshire is probably ahead of the curve.

What’s the best aspect of your job?

Meeting people. I’m a people person and I find people interesting. Since starting I’ve visited the public order team, firearms, Resolution Centre, control room, I travelled to the Isle of Wight for the first time, Portsmouth, Winchester and Southampton. It’s just a great opportunity to sit down and chat with people, even if they’re thinking “Crikey! It’s the new DCC.”

I’ve had a positive conversation with every one of them about what they’re doing to help keep people living and working in the force area safe. The chief constable is the face of the force, and that’s the right way for it to be, but for me to do my job properly I’ve got to understand the issues that everyone faces in the organisation. You can only do that by talking to them.

You’ve joined the force at a time of significant changes to policing. Are we on the right path?

Yes. I’m not the architect of the plan, I didn’t design it, but I think it’s a good plan. We’re not looking to withdraw from any area of policing and I think that’s a real positive. There’s so much change, it’s happened so quickly and the timescales are so tight that there is little room for error. If you’re on the front line you must be thinking “When’s it going to end?” But there is a detailed plan, which we’ll follow through. For it to be successful – and this is a key risk that we must counter – people must operate as one organisation. If we operate in silos the plan won’t work.

What don’t you like to see in policing?

Assaults on police – of any kind. It is not acceptable to be rude or shout and swear at an officer. I’m very proud that we police by consent and don’t routinely carry firearms, so it’s an abuse of that trust when our officers are assaulted. I went to the Police Federation open evening and I’m conscious of the views on this subject. As a PC I’ve been assaulted, it’s not nice and our colleagues don’t deserve that.

Highlights of your career so far?

I led the investigation for Operation Ainstable, which involved gangsters in Liverpool. I was proud the whole team received a judge’s commendation. Also the year [2012] I spent as Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe’s staff officer was an amazing experience. It was Olympics year, the Queen’s jubilee, the year PCCs were introduced in London. Contrast that with the previous year when the riots in England took place, where we saw communities literally burnt to the ground.

What are your interests outside of work?

I like football, cooking and eating. I used to play football, but a slipped disc put paid to that. Don’t tell the chief, but I’ve been going to watch Chelsea since I was 11. I always cook the Sunday roast; I find it a good way of switching off with a large glass of Rioja. Family time [with wife Claire and sons Daniel and Callum] is very important to me.