Chief Constable at North Wales Police awarded OBE

A chief constable at North Wales Police has been awarded an OBE in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to policing.

Mark Polin has served as chief constable for North Wales Police for the past nine years.

He began his career with the City of London Police where he worked up to the rank of chief inspector. In 1998 he transferred to Gwent Police as the Superintendent in charge of various central operational functions, including the Force Control Room and the firearms, public order and traffic units.

Just over a year later in December 1999, Mark was appointed as Chief Superintendent and Divisional Commander of Caerphilly Division, and in 2002 assumed responsibility for the Professional and Ethical Standards Department.

Before moving to North Wales as Chief Constable Mark was Deputy Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Constabulary.

On a national level Mark has for the past five years chaired the Chief Police Officers Staff Association and has been leading on the design, delivery and development of the chief officer and direct entry selection programmes.

In 2010 Mark received the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM Award).

Chief Constable Polin, who recently announced his retirement from North Wales Police, said: “I am humbled and feel deeply privileged to have been recognised in this way. I don’t regard the award as a reflection of my own achievement, but rather that of the police service and more particularly, the teams I have worked with.

“Were it not for the tremendous organisations and colleagues I have been fortunate enough to lead, such as here in North Wales, I would not have been able to devote time to leading some key national portfolios which have been to the benefit of the wider policing service.

“The timing, just before I leave the service to take up another key public sector role, could not be better.

“It marks wonderfully the end of a 35 year police career and nine years as Chief Constable in North Wales which I have found thoroughly rewarding and which I will undoubtedly miss very much.”

Mark will leave his post in effect from late July to take up the role of chairman of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board at the start of September

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones said: “This honour is richly deserved and Mark can look back on his career in the police with great pride.

“Mark is one of the longest serving chief constables in England and Wales. He has led North Wales Police with great distinction for nine years and is very prominent nationally.

“What makes his record even more impressive is that Mark has been chief constable at a time when we have had to contend with swingeing funding cuts of £29 million and when a host of new and emerging crimes have sucked up resources.

“He has had to change the focus of the force away from volume crime to protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities, as set out in my Police and Crime Plan which he has implemented fully and he has ensured we are achieving commendable results.

“I wish him well in the challenges that lie ahead in his new position as chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board where his immense personal and professional qualities will I am sure have a positive impact.”