Michael Todd: profile

Michael Todd was a hands on chief constable who was admired in the force and maintained a media-friendly profile.

His biggest challenge was tackling gun and drugs gangs in Manchester.

In 2005 he proved his willingness to take a stand when he volunteered to be tasered in front of TV cameras to prove the controversial device was safe.

He began his policing career in 1976 when he joined the Essex force, where he served as both a uniformed officer and a detective.

As an inspector, he served at Bethnal Green in east London, as part of the first management exchange scheme between Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.

He was appointed an Assistant Chief Constable in Nottinghamshire in 1995 with a role including operational policing and management and technical services.

In 1998, he was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner responsible for policing the North West Area of London.

In 2000, following his promotion to Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, he was responsible for Territorial Policing, covering all 32 London Boroughs.

He led many high profile operations and events, including the policing of May Day demonstrations, Notting Hill Carnival, the Queen's Jubilee celebrations and the Met's Street Crime initiative.

According to his profile on the GMP website, Mr Todd believed the relationship between the media and the police was very important.

In 1992 he invited TV crews to join him on raids in an attempt to demonstrate openness and reassurance to the public.

He was known as being very 'media friendly' and was interviewed on numerous television and radio programmes, including the Today programme on Radio 4 and Newsnight.

During the May Day demonstrations in 2001 he held 66 TV and Radio interviews during the two days, which was a record.

Mr Todd stated his commitment to visible policing on the streets and to take the fight against crime to the criminal through proactive "intelligence-led policing".

His leadership style focused on getting onto the streets.

He became chief constable of Greater Manchester Police in 2002.

Mr Todd had both a first class honours degree and a Master of Philosophy degree in politics.

According to his biography on the force website, he spent his spare time with his children, mountain biking and reading - particularly military and political biographies.

His heroes were Alexander the Great, Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and George Patton.

In 2006 he was elected as Vice President of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

He was also a member of the ACPO Terrorism Committee and the ACPO Media Advisory Group.

Following is his biography from the Greater Manchester Police website:

Michael Todd QPM M Phil BA (Hons)

Michael Todd joined Essex Police in 1976 and served as both a uniformed officer and a detective.

As an Inspector, he served at Bethnal Green in London, as part of the first management exchange scheme between Essex Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.

He was appointed an Assistant Chief Constable in Nottinghamshire in 1995 with a role including operational policing and management and technical services.

In 1998, he was appointed as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner responsible for policing the North West Area of London.

In 2000, following his promotion to Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, he was responsible for Territorial Policing, covering all 32 London Boroughs. He has led many high profile operations and events, including the policing of May Day demonstrations, Notting Hill Carnival, the Queen's Jubilee celebrations and the Met's Street Crime initiative.

He believes that the relationship between the Media and the Police Service is very important. In 1992 he invited TV crews to join him on Police raids in an attempt to demonstrate openness and reassurance to the public. He is known as being very 'media friendly' and has been interviewed on numerous television and radio programmes, including the Today programme on Radio 4 and has even been grilled by Jeremy Paxman. During the May Day demonstrations in 2001 he held 66 TV and Radio interviews during the two days, which is a record.

Mr Todd has stated his commitment to visible policing on the streets and to take the fight against crime to the criminal through proactive Intelligence-led policing. His leadership style is to get out onto the streets and have a thorough Perfomance Management regime which includes all his staff from top to bottom.

Mr Todd has both first class honours degree and a Master of Philosophy degree in Politics, a subject he enjoys tremendously, and was recognised by Essex University as their Alumnus of the Year for 2003.

During his "spare time" in between chauffeuring his children to their various activities, he enjoys mountain biking, computer games and reading, particularly military and political biographies. His heroes are Alexander the Great, Generals Norman Schwarzkopf and George Patton.

In 2006 he was elected as Vice President of ACPO. He is also currently a member of the ACPO Terrorism Committee and the ACPO Media Advisory Group.