Kenneth Newman was Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1976 to 1980, and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1982 to 1987.
13 Facts About Kenneth Newman
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Kenneth Newman is best known for initiating a major reform and restructure of the Metropolitan Police during his tenure as Commissioner and for seeing the RUC replace the British Army as the dominant security force in Northern Ireland during his tenure as Chief Constable.
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Kenneth Newman joined the Royal Air Force in 1942, three days after his 16th birthday.
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Kenneth Newman rose up the ranks quickly: promoted to Sergeant in 1953; a Detective Inspector with the Vice Squad; Chief Inspector at Southwark in 1963 and Superintendent and Chief Superintendent at Gerald Road from 1965.
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In 1973, Kenneth Newman applied for the position of Deputy Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland and was promoted to Chief Constable in May 1976.
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Kenneth Newman was knighted in the 1978 New Year Honours after his work with the RUC.
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Kenneth Newman was recalled to England in 1980 and served for three years as Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Commandant of the Police Staff College, Bramshill, where he honed his skills in public order policing and management reform.
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Kenneth Newman subsequently initiated one of the most major reform campaigns the Met had ever undertaken.
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Kenneth Newman spoke out against the prevalence of Freemasonry in the police, although a police Freemason's Lodge, the Manor of St James, was set up and flourished shortly after his comments.
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Kenneth Newman retired in 1987, his reforms paving the way for his successor, Sir Peter Imbert, to implement further reforms known as the PLUS Programme.
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Kenneth Newman took directorships with Control Risks, Automated Security Holdings and the Automobile Association.
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Sir Kenneth Newman died on 4 February 2017 at the age of 90, presumedly in Bournemouth, Dorset where his funeral was held.
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Kenneth Newman was survived by his wife Eileen, their son, Laurence, daughter, Melanie, and three grandsons.