Michael Fuller, QPM is the former Chief Constable of Kent Police and was the first black Chief Constable in the United Kingdom.
Fuller took up his role as Chief Constable of Kent on 5 January 2004. He joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1975 as a cadet. He has served in uniformed and CID positions throughout London. His service has included several postings at New Scotland Yard, including selection for Special Branch.
Whilst a Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) stationed at Shepherds Bush and Hammersmith he devised an innovative burglary control programme which successfully reduced burglary. This was a forerunner to the London - wide Operation Bumblebee. As DCI at Paddington he devised innovative covert techniques to successfully reduce street robbery under the Operation Eagle Eye initiative.
As a Detective Superintendent he worked as a specialist Staff Officer seconded to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary based at the Home Office. He gave specialist advice on crime and terrorism issues and carried out inspections of police force Special Branches in relation to counter-terrorism. He also gave regular advice to the Chief HMI, Ministers and the Home Secretary.
In 1998 he helped set up the Racial and Violent Crime Task Force in response to criticism of the Metropolitan Police arising from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry. He subsequently served as a uniformed Superintendent in Lambeth and was the Chief Superintendent in charge of Battersea Police Station.
In January 2000 as a Commander he took command of West Area Serious Crime Group. As well as overseeing murder investigations he set up Operation Trident to tackle gun crime within black communities in London. He was highly successful in securing the confidence and support of minority communities and this directly led to the arrest and imprisonment of some of the most dangerous violent criminals involved in gun crime in London.
In 2001 he won the G2 ‘Man of the Year Award’ in recognition of his personal achievements and contribution to policing in London. In February 2002 he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner. As well as heading the Met Police Drugs Directorate, he was also the Director of Intelligence for the Service, as part of a newly formed Specialist Crime Directorate.[1]
On 16 February 2010 it was announced that Michael Fuller would be leaving Kent Police to start his new role as Chief Inspector of the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service). Mr Fuller stated "'I am delighted to have been confirmed in the role of Chief Inspector of the Crown Prosecution Service and look forward to a new challenge which I hope to take up in April. However, I will be leaving Kent with a sense of sadness after six very enjoyable years and I would like to pay tribute to all the officers and staff of the Kent force for their hard work and dedication." [2][3]
On 5 July 2010 Ian Learmonth succeeded Michael Fuller as Chief Constable of Kent Police.
2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8493702.stm
3. http://www.kent.police.uk/News/Latest_News/Chief%20leaving.html