Peter Ryan (police commissioner)
Encyclopedia
Peter James Ryan, QPM
(born 18 May 1944) is a former British police officer, who was the Commissioner
of New South Wales Police
in Australia from 1996 to 2002.
to Laurence and Maureen Ryan.
on 16 January 1961 as a police cadet. He completed the training course at Bruche Police National Training Centre
in 1963, and on 19 May was given his first posting as a probationer in Little Hulton
on the outskirts of Manchester. In 1968, Ryan was one of the first intake of police officers into the new University of Lancaster, and upon graduation with a Bachelor of Arts he was promoted to Sergeant, and in 1973 was promoted to Inspector stationed at the Lancashire's headquarters in Preston.
Ryan joined the Metropolitan Police Service
in London, and was Chief Superintendent at Chelsea Police Station during the Harrods bombing
in December 1983.
He was Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary
and was the first National Director of Police Training at the Police Staff College, Bramshill
prior to his appointment to the New South Wales Police
in Australia.
Labor
Premier
Bob Carr
. Prior to coming to Australia
, Ryan had risen rapidly to very senior roles in British police ranks. His British career culminated as the Head of National Police Training.
Following his departure from the NSW Police Service, Ryan has worked on a number of consulting projects. He is a security expert for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and was the Principal Security Advisor to the ATHOC (Athens Olympic Games Organising Committee).
Ryan was covered widely by the Australian media and is the subject of the 2003 biography, Peter Ryan: The Inside Story, by Sydney author, Sue Williams.
Ryan has been appointed an Officer of the Order of St John
(OStJ), and awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM), NSW Police Ministers Olympic Commendation, NSW Police Commissioners Olympic Citation and the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for service in the UK Police Forces). He has a Masters Degree in Science and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Macquarie University, Sydney.
Ryan married his second wife Adrienne Ryan
(née Butterworth), who moved to Sydney
with him upon his appointment as Police Commissioner. They separated, and divorced in 2005. While she continues to reside in Australia, Ryan has since moved back to the UK.
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
(born 18 May 1944) is a former British police officer, who was the Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
in Australia from 1996 to 2002.
Early life and education
Ryan was born in 1944 in LancasterLancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
to Laurence and Maureen Ryan.
Police career in England
Ryan joined Lancashire ConstabularyLancashire Constabulary
Lancashire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Lancashire in the North West England. The force's headquarters are at Hutton, near the city of Preston...
on 16 January 1961 as a police cadet. He completed the training course at Bruche Police National Training Centre
Bruche Police National Training Centre
The Bruche Police Training Centre was a training complex for probationary police officers in the United Kingdom. It trained many thousands of officers over a period of around sixty years, until its closure in May 2006. The site in a suburb of Warrington was operated by CENTREX, the 'Central...
in 1963, and on 19 May was given his first posting as a probationer in Little Hulton
Little Hulton
Little Hulton is a village—effectively a suburb—within the City of Salford, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies south of Bolton, west-northwest of Salford, and west-northwest of Manchester...
on the outskirts of Manchester. In 1968, Ryan was one of the first intake of police officers into the new University of Lancaster, and upon graduation with a Bachelor of Arts he was promoted to Sergeant, and in 1973 was promoted to Inspector stationed at the Lancashire's headquarters in Preston.
Ryan joined the Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
in London, and was Chief Superintendent at Chelsea Police Station during the Harrods bombing
Harrods bombing
The Harrods bombing was a car bombing that occurred at Harrods department store in London on 17 December 1983. The bomb had been planted by members of the Provisional IRA, although the IRA Army Council claimed that it had not authorised the attack. The IRA members had sent a warning 37 minutes...
in December 1983.
He was Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:...
and was the first National Director of Police Training at the Police Staff College, Bramshill
Police Staff College, Bramshill
The Police Staff College, Bramshill, Bramshill House, Bramshill, Hook, Hampshire, England, is the principal police staff training establishment in the United Kingdom....
prior to his appointment to the New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
in Australia.
Commissioner of New South Wales Police
Peter Ryan was recruited to the position from an international pool of applicants following the controversial Wood Royal Commission into Corruption of the NSW Police Service that ran from 1995 to 1997. Ryan was appointed by the New South WalesNew South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
Bob Carr
Bob Carr
Robert John "Bob" Carr , Australian statesman, was Premier of New South Wales from 4 April 1995 to 3 August 2005. He holds the record for the longest continuous service as premier of NSW...
. Prior to coming to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Ryan had risen rapidly to very senior roles in British police ranks. His British career culminated as the Head of National Police Training.
Following his departure from the NSW Police Service, Ryan has worked on a number of consulting projects. He is a security expert for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and was the Principal Security Advisor to the ATHOC (Athens Olympic Games Organising Committee).
Ryan was covered widely by the Australian media and is the subject of the 2003 biography, Peter Ryan: The Inside Story, by Sydney author, Sue Williams.
Ryan has been appointed an Officer of the Order of St John
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(OStJ), and awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM), NSW Police Ministers Olympic Commendation, NSW Police Commissioners Olympic Citation and the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for service in the UK Police Forces). He has a Masters Degree in Science and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Macquarie University, Sydney.
Ryan married his second wife Adrienne Ryan
Adrienne Ryan
Adrienne Ryan is a current Councillor and the former Mayor of Ku-ring-gai Council in Sydney, New South Wales. She was also married to, and now divorced from former Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Peter Ryan. Ryan was born Adrienne Butterworth in Yorkshire, England, Adrienne Ryan moved...
(née Butterworth), who moved to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
with him upon his appointment as Police Commissioner. They separated, and divorced in 2005. While she continues to reside in Australia, Ryan has since moved back to the UK.