Former South Yorkshire Police chief Stephen Watson knighted for turning round string of failing forces
A former chief constable of South Yorkshire Police with a track record for turning around failing forces with his “back to basics” approach has been knighted.
Sir Stephen Watson called the title a “genuinely humbling” honour he shares with fellow officers and the people he serves.
The copper, who has over 30 years’ service under his cap, was credited with turning around the reputation of South Yorkshire Police after it was rated one of the worst performing in the country in 2016.
Indeed, after being appointed in 2016, the then newly appointed Chief Constable Watson announced: “South Yorkshire Police will be rated as ‘good’ in the next two years or I will sack myself.”
He joined SYP in 2017 and left the role in 2021, by which time it was rated ‘good in all areas.’
Sir Stephen, who now heads Greater Manchester Police (GMP), was speaking after collecting his knighthood from the Princess Royal at St James’ Palace in London on Thursday.
Named in the King’s Birthday Honours list last June, Sir Stephen paid tribute to the thousands of officers he has served with in his 37-year career in policing.
He said: “I, in having the privilege of leadership, am lucky enough, am I not, to be the recipient of this award?
“But, candidly, it is not just for me, it is for the people with whom I work.
“It is a representation of the good work that they do and the difference that they make to people’s lives.
“And that is why in the same breath as saying that it’s a wonderful honour, it is genuinely humbling, because you do recognise that this is on the shoulders of many, many thousands of men and women out there whom I am so so privileged to work with.”
Sir Stephen also paid tribute to his “wonderful wife and children” who attended the ceremony.
He said “that I have always been able to count on their ceaseless love and their support amounts to the most precious of my personal blessings”.
He began his career as a constable with Lancashire Police in 1988 and has also served with Merseyside Police, the Metropolitan Police and Durham Constabulary.
His honour was to recognise his commitment to policing and the exceptional results as chief constable of both his previous force, South Yorkshire Police, and GMP, who he joined in May 2021 after the previous chief constable resigned with the force in special measures.
Since then, GMP has gone from the worst-performing force to one of the best.
Sir Stephen’s approach, described as “back to basics”, has seen him enforce rules on “scruffy” uniforms, unshaven officers and ban pins and badges and visible tattoos.
After the ceremony, he spoke of the value of getting the basics right and of local policing in “a very dynamic world”.
Sir Stephen said there are officers in the force who are “really committed to helping people”, adding: “The public expect the police to turn up when they are called, to treat them respectfully, to look as if they know what they are doing and they understand their powers and the law.
“Folks don’t ring us for the good of their health. They ring when something difficult or dangerous is happening to their families and they expect us to sort it out, and to do that with real respect to people, with compassion, vigour and professionalism.
“Those are the building blocks that make British policing still, in my view, the best in the world and we cannot be complacent because too often we get things wrong.
“I think we have to redouble our efforts just to remind the public the vast majority of police officers are really good, decent people who are working their socks off in the interests of the public.
“It is to those that I always wish to pay tribute.”
After South Yorkshire Police was rated good in 2019, the then police and crime commissioner Dr Alan Billings paid tribute to Mr Watson.
Dr Billings said at the time: “Three years ago, when I appointed the present Chief Constable, Stephen Watson, South Yorkshire Police were in a bad place. The judgement of the inspectorate at that time was that the force was amongst the worst performing forces in the country and morale was low.
“This was not a reflection on the officers and staff who were people of great professionalism and integrity; but they lacked a clear focus and a resolute purpose. This is what they have been given and the results are now beginning to show.”
He added: “To go from ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ in all areas inspected is an astonishing achievement in a relatively short period of time, not least because it has been done against a background of cuts. It points to hard work and dedication by officers and staff at every level of the organisation.”