Richard Earland, Chief Information Officer, National Policing Improvement Agency

Richard Earland

Richard Earland is the first national Chief Information Officer for Policing in the United Kingdom. In this role Richard has responsibility for the development of Forensic Science and Identification services, as well as national programmes delivering Digital secure National communication services, and the Information Systems Strategy for the Police Service. To facilitate this work Richard is striving to develop a CIO Council within policing. Richard has extensive experience of delivering major ICT programmes, most recently as Group Director for Information Programmes with the Metropolitan Police Service (New Scotland Yard - London).

Before joining the National Policing Improvement Agency in October 2006, Richard served in the MPS London and as Kent Police IT Director for eight years. Working for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in the period 2001-2003 he was the director of the Valiant Programme. Valiant involved working in partnership with other IT directors and police figures around the country to develop the IT strategy for the Police Service.  This work provided the basis for the Information Systems Strategy for the Police Service (ISS4PS).

Richard is a fellow of the British Computer Society and has been an ACPO member for more than six years through his involvement with the ACPO Information Management Business Area, IT Futures Group and the National Management Information System Programme Board.

Richard's early career was spent in the Royal Navy where he was a specialist in Survival Medicine, and Medical Logistics and Planning. He also worked in the NHS as a Director for Organisational Development with responsibility for major ICT and organisational development programmes.

Richard has recently been sworn in as a voluntary Police Officer with the British Transport Police and is keen to undertake operational front line duties to fully understand the role of a police officer.