David Veness

Sir David Veness CBE, QPM
Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, Metropolitan police
In office 1994–2005
Succeeded by	Andy Hayman
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security
In office 2005–2008
Personal details
Born	David Christopher Veness London
Profession	Police officer

Sir David Christopher Veness, CBE, QPM is a British former senior police officer and United Nations official. He served as Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police from 1994–2005, leaving to serve as United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security.

Veness was educated at Raynes Park High School, London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained Master of Arts and Master of Laws degrees.

After two years as a police cadet, he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1966, transferring to the Criminal Investigation Department in 1969, serving in various roles across London and at the Met's headquarters, Scotland Yard. Veness trained as a negotiator in 1979, directing the Met's negotiator course from 1980–87, a role which placed him on the negotiating team at the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege and in which he was lead negotiator in the siege of the Libyan embassy following the murder of Yvonne Fletcher as well as advising on other incidents worldwide. Promoted to commander in 1987, Veness went on to head the Protection Command, responsible for the protection of royalty and politicians before assuming the role of Commander Public Order, Territorial Security and Operational Support followed by promotion to Deputy Assistant Commissioner at Specialist Operations in November 1991.

...
Wikipedia