Hugh Orde facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sir Hugh Orde OBE QPM
Orde speaking at a conference in 2012.
Born	(1958-08-27) 27 August 1958 (age 66) London, United Kingdom
Awards	Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Queen's Police Medal
Police career
Department	Police Service of Northern Ireland
Country	United Kingdom
Rank	Chief constable

Sir Hugh Stephen Roden Orde (born 27 August 1958) is a retired British police officer. He is best known for leading the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and later serving as the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). This association represents police forces across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Orde earned a degree in Public Administration from the University of Kent. His long career in policing earned him many awards, including a knighthood.

Police Career

Sir Hugh Orde's journey in law enforcement began in 1977 when he joined London's Metropolitan Police Service. He was a skilled officer and moved up through the ranks quickly. He became a Superintendent in the Territorial Support Group, a special unit that handles public order situations.

Later, as a Commander, he was involved in an important investigation into the death of a teenager named Stephen Lawrence. This case looked at how the police handled the situation.

Work in Northern Ireland

Orde played a key role in the Stevens Report. This was a major investigation into serious conflicts in Northern Ireland. Because of his excellent work, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2001.

In 2002, he became the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The PSNI is the main police force for Northern Ireland, which replaced the older Royal Ulster Constabulary. For his service and leadership, he was knighted by the Queen in 2005, giving him the title "Sir".

Leadership and Later Roles

In 2009, Orde left his position in Northern Ireland to become the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO). He led this group, which helps coordinate police forces, until 2015.

After retiring, he continued to contribute to policing. He became a director at the Police National Assessment Centre, which helps select and train future police leaders. In 2013, he also became a Patron of the Police Roll of Honour Trust, a charity that honors police officers who have died in the line of duty.

In 2010, Orde made a speech about ongoing security threats in Northern Ireland. He used a phrase from the past, suggesting that the level of threat might be an "acceptable level of violence". He meant that some groups were unlikely to stop their activities, but the situation was much less dangerous than it had been years before. His comment was seen as controversial by some politicians, who felt it was insensitive to victims of violence.

Honours and Awards

Sir Hugh Orde has received many awards for his long and dedicated service to policing. These medals and honours recognize his contributions to keeping communities safe.

Ribbon	Description	Notes
	Knight Bachelor (Kt)	Awarded in 2005 for his services to policing.
	Order of the British Empire (OBE)	Awarded in 2001 as an Officer in the Civil Division.
	Queen's Police Medal (QPM)	Awarded in 2010 for distinguished service.
	Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal	Awarded in 2002 to mark the Queen's 50th year on the throne.
	Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal	Awarded in 2012 to mark the Queen's 60th year on the throne.
	Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal	Awarded for many years of excellent service in the police.

• In July 2005, he was also given an Honorary Doctorate of Civil Law (DCL) from the University of Kent.