profile: security


Former Senior National Coordinator for Counter Terrorism Policing


DAC Dean Haydon QPM D


ean Haydon QPM, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC) Metropolitan Police Service and Senior National Co- ordinator (SNC) for Counter Terrorism Policing, retired this summer. We discuss the highlights from his policing career, including his


international roles, his approach to leadership and today’s terrorism challenge.


Best job in policing


DAC Dean Haydon retired in July 2022 after 34 years in policing. Although his final role as the UK Head of Counter Terrorism involved a high degree of accountability, risk and being always on call, Dean calls it “the best job in policing”.


His role included lead operational responsibility for delivery of the counter terrorism strategy CONTEST; strategic lead for high threat and high-risk terrorist operations; and lead police advisor to government through COBR in times of crisis. During his leadership, 34 terrorist plots have been disrupted.


Dean said: “It is a huge role: you can mobilise a nationwide network of resources and assets from across the UK, from the police officers in London to those nationwide, with access to 8,000 CT officers. You can support other


19 © CITY SECURITY MAGAZINE – AUTUMN 2022


countries around the world with the resources available. It is a fascinating, challenging and hugely fulfilling job.”


An equivalent role does not exist in most countries. Dean says: “This role enabled me to take command and control of incidents across multiple force areas and this provided clear advantages when terrorists move across force boundaries.”


Throughout his career, counter terrorism has been his passion and Neil Basu (the previous SNC for Counter Terrorism) said: “Dean is one of, if not, the most experienced senior detectives in UK Counter Terrorism and major crime. He brings a wealth of operational and strategic wisdom to the role, which, from personal experience, I know is one of policing’s most demanding.”


Dean’s 34 years of police service have involved many of the most serious, challenging and well-known crimes and terrorist attacks in the UK and globally. For this article, this calm, resilient and popular leader reflected on some of the key moments in his career:


An early start at Hendon


Dean is the first and only police officer in his family. Thirty-four years ago, aged just 17, he arrived in London to attend Hendon as a police cadet, where he had “the best year of his life”, before becoming a police recruit a year later.


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His career has spanned the length and breadth of London including his first two years at Wembley, trainee investigator in Harlesden and Kilburn, heading up the robbery and burglary team in Ealing, and roles in Lambeth and Brixton.


Dean always wanted to be a detective and has been in almost every conceivable detective role. He was a detective constable and detective sergeant for a dozen years before advancing his career. “I wanted to secure a solid grounding and experience at these ranks before going for further promotion.”


Once he began climbing the promotion ladder, he progressed quickly, eventually reaching one of the top jobs in British policing. He says this is down to “a bit of luck, a bit of being at the right place at the right time, but also my own application and effectiveness”. Additionally, he says he always went for promotion when the timing was right for him and he had the experience and credibility to succeed.


Counter Terrorism roles


There is a thread of counter terrorism involvement throughout Dean’s career. This began with him being the first officer on the scene at the Wembley High Street vehicle- borne bomb in May 1990 and two years later, responding to the massive car bomb at Staples Corner.


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