Ms Colette Paul
Colette’s policing career began almost 30 years ago, when she joined Metropolitan Police Service as a uniformed police constable in 1982.
After graduating from Keel University with a degree in English and Psychology, Colette didn’t consider joining the police until her last year at university, but has since enjoyed what she describes as ‘an immensely rewarding’ career.
First walking the beat in Edmonton, North London, Colette soon progressed into the CID, and has since spent much of her service as an operational detective in a variety of different roles. This included work within the Vice Unit, Murder Squad, and the Race and Violent Crime Task Force.
In 1998, Colette took a career break and ventured across the pond to work for the British High Commissioner in Ottawa, Canada. Returning to London two years later, she was appointed as the Detective Superintendent of the MPS Anti-Terrorist Branch.
In this role, Colette set up the MPS War Crimes Unit and the Counter Terrorist Intelligence Cell. She also acted as the Senior Investigating Officer in a number of terrorist investigations.
On promotion to the rank of Chief Superintendent in 2004, Colette served as Staff Officer to Lord Stephens, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. After a year in post, she went back to operational policing to become the Borough Commander for Ealing Borough, West London.
Colette later held responsibility for all operational strategy in the MPS, after attending the Senior Command Course at Bramshill in November 2007.
On 19th May 2008, Colette joined South Wales Police as the Assistant Chief Constable of Protective Services, overseeing terrorism and domestic extremism, serious and organised crime, major crime, public protection, firearms, and other areas of operational support within the Force.
Colette also held regional responsibility for all counter terrorism and domestic extremism matters in her role as ACC, and she continues to hold national responsibility for a number of ACPO policing areas.
The South Wales Policy Authority promoted Colette as the new Deputy Chief Constable of the Force in December 2009, a post which she took up on 1st January 2010.
Colette is extremely proud to serve as the second highest in command for South Wales Police, and is looking forward to working with all her colleagues and staff to deliver excellent policing services to the people of South Wales. She is passionate about public service and says she wouldn’t want to do any other job. Policing is the job of her dreams.