Alison Heydari

Alison Heydari is a Temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in London and currently the most senior Black female police officer in the UK. She previously led the MPS on neighbourhood policing and, nationally, on Out-Of-Court Resolutions, used by police to deal proportionately with first time or low-level offences.[1][2] She is now on secondment to the National Police Chiefs' Council as Programme Director for the National Police Race Action Plan whilst also retaining ownership of Out-Court-Resolutions nationally.

Early life, education and career

Heydari, the daughter of Guyanese immigrants, was born and brought up in South London. She had thought of trying a career in art but, when living in Hampshire, noticed a small advert for police jobs in the local newspaper, discussed it with her husband and, hoping to change the world for the better, took up policing.[3][4]

In 2000, Heydari started policing with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary as a student officer. After training, she was deployed to Southampton. She took part in the Home Office Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates and was promoted to sergeant after two years of service. She stayed in Hampshire for two decades. She joined the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) as a detective sergeant working on a wide number of issues including public protection, e.g. managing hate crime, preventing people trafficking, domestic violence and child abuse. Her secondments included to His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and she worked abroad teaching at John Jay Exchange College of Criminal Justice New York. In 2009, she became a chief inspector and district commander of Portsmouth South.[5]

In October 2019, Heydari read for a Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Portsmouth with a thesis on Enhancing the Experience of Procedural Justice for Domestic Abuse Survivors by Improving the Policing Response.[6]

In June 2020, Heydari joined the Metropolitan Police Service as a Frontline Policing area commander.[7] Within the Service she has been recognised for strategic leadership contributing to organisational reform and public confidence in policing, promoting transparency, fairness and trust across communities.[8][9]

Following the murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests, the Police Race Action Plan was established in 2020. Heydari was later appointed to lead the programme in 2023, with the appointment publicly announced in September 2023.[10][11]

In 2021, Heydari launched the "Behind the Badge" project in an attempt to encourage more Black people to join the police whether on the beat or behind a desk.[3][12][13][14]

In 2025, Alison Claire Heydari was appointed Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, University of Oxford.[15]

As a horse rider, Heydari rides as a senior mounted police officer with the Metropolitan Police on ceremonial duties.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Commander Dr Alison Heydari: 'We have to be unrelenting in making sure our officers know they're doing a good job'". Policing Insight. 20 December 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "A passion for diversity, equality and inclusion". The Voice. March 2024. pp. 12, 21.
  3. ^ a b Alleyne-Lawler, Omar (15 December 2021). "HIT Brings Commander Dr Alison Heydari's 'Behind the Badge' Tour to Haringey Sixth". Hope in Haringey. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  4. ^ BWSM (21 October 2023). "Behind the badge: Commander Dr. Alison Heydari". Black Wall St Media. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Leadership Learning | Our speakers". Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  6. ^ "Enhancing the experience of procedural justice for domestic abuse survivors by improving the policing response". University of Portsmouth. 2019. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Our Leadership Team". Metropolitan Police Service. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  8. ^ "Metropolitan Police Service – Annual Report and Accounts 2022–23" (PDF). Metropolitan Police Service. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  9. ^ "HMICFRS PEEL 2023/24 – Metropolitan Police Service". His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  10. ^ "Chief Constables' Council: Police Race Action Plan update paper (Item 2.3)" (PDF). National Police Chiefs’ Council. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  11. ^ "Appointment of new Police Race Action Plan Programme Director". National Police Chiefs’ Council. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  12. ^ Morgan, Jessica. "We Asked Britain's Most Senior Black Police Officer About Racism In The Met". www.refinery29.com. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  13. ^ Ormiston, Sam (27 April 2022). "Black mum became cop while raising 3 children to 'change the Met from within'". My London. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  14. ^ France, Anthony (17 February 2021). "Met's top black female cop: My brother was stopped and searched". Evening Standard. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Alison Heydari – Visiting Fellow". nuffield.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
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