Judith Kyle Gillespie, CBE (born November 1962)[1] is a retired senior police officer. She was the Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland between June 2009 and March 2014.
Judith Gillespie | |
|---|---|
| Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1 June 2009 – 31 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Leighton |
| Succeeded by | Drew Harris |
| Acting Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland | |
| In office August 2009 – September 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Hugh Orde |
| Succeeded by | Sir Matt Baggott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Judith Kyle Gillespie November 1962 (age 61) |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom |
| Nationality | British |
| Children | Two |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
| Profession | Police officer |
Early life and education edit
Gillespie was born and raised in North Belfast[2] and was educated at Belfast Royal Academy[3] She completed a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in public policy and administration in 1992. She went on to study for a master's degree in applied criminology at the University of Cambridge, which she completed in 2005.[2][4]
Police career edit
Gillespie began her policing career when she joined the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in 1982 as a police constable.[5] During her initial training at Enniskillen, she was awarded the Baton of Honour.[4] She had previously been rejected by the RUC because of her gender.[6] She spent her early career policing the Greater Belfast area.[7] She was promoted to chief inspector in 1997, superintendent in 1999, and chief superintendent in 2002.[4]
In 2003, she attended the Strategic Command Course at the Police Staff College, Bramshill.[8] In 2004, she was appointed assistant chief constable.[9] This made her the first female to reach chief officer rank in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.[8][5] On 1 June 2009, she was promoted to deputy chief constable, becoming the second most senior police officer in Northern Ireland.[7][9] She served as acting chief constable from August 2009 to September 2009.[10] In March 2011, she was given the opportunity to retire early with a £500,000 severance package but chose to continue her career.[6] She retired from the police on 31 March 2014.[9]
A keen sportswoman, she played hockey and squash for the RUC.[11] In 2013, when the World Police and Fire Games was held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, she served as the chair of the board.[12][13]
Personal life edit
Gillespie is married and has two daughters.[14]
She took up running after the death of the sister-in-law from cancer. She has completed the Belfast Marathon relay, Race for Life and the Great North Run, raising money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.[11]
Honours edit
Gillespie was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2009 Birthday Honours for public service.[15] In the 2014 Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to policing and the community in Northern Ireland.[16] In July 2012, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen's University Belfast.[10]
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| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
| |
Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
|
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Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
|
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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
|
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Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | |
| |
Royal Ulster Constabulary Service Medal | |
| |
Police Service of Northern Ireland Service Medal |
References edit
- ^ "Judith Kyle GILLESPIE - Personal Appointments". Companies House. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ a b Young, David (13 March 2014). "I'm leaving PSNI on my own terms, insists Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ policeserviceni.blogspot.com/2013/04/recent-visit-to-belfast-royal-academy.html
- ^ a b c "Policing Board: Deputy Chief Constable appointment confirmed". Police Board of Northern Ireland. 28 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 October 2015. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ a b "Judith Gillespie, NI's most senior policewoman, to retire". BBC News. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ a b Young, David (13 March 2014). "Judith Gillespie: I'll sue over vile online sex slurs says Northern Ireland's most senior woman police officer". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ a b "JUDITH GILLESPIE OBE" (pdf). British Association for Women in Policing. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ^ a b "First female PSNI Assistant Chief Constable appointed". Northern Ireland News. 4NI. 18 May 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ a b c "Deputy chief constable Judith Gillespie to retire". The Belfast Telegraph. 20 December 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ a b "Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie OBE". Police Service of Northern Ireland. Archived from the original on 19 September 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
- ^ a b Bell, Stephanie (23 May 2014). "Judith Gillespie: The ex-cop and sports boss on the run with Mary". The Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "WPFG 'best and friendliest ever', says president of games". BBC News. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "Board of Directors". 2013 WPFG. World Police & Fire Games. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ Beattie, Jilly (20 May 2004). "I went from the Shopping Squad to Super Nintendo to first female Assistant Chief Constable; JUDITH'S HISTORIC RISE TO TOP PSNI POST". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
- ^ "No. 59090". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 June 2009. pp. 9–10.
- ^ "No. 60895". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 2014. p. b9.