Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods QPM, Awarded CBE in King’s Birthday Honours

Greater Manchester Police Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods QPM has been awarded a CBE in the King’s Birthday Honours.

Terry Woods is the UK’s most experienced Deputy Chief Constable, beginning his policing career in 1996 with Lancashire Constabulary, having previously served as a Special Constable at Greater Manchester Police. After serving the public across many areas, including response, specialist operations, neighbourhood policing and safeguarding, he was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in 2017, and later Deputy Chief Constable in 2019, before joining GMP in September 2021.

He is the National Police Chiefs Council’s lead for Police Driving, and in this role has informed the transformation of training standards, legislative change and tenaciously brought all 48 forces into full compliance. His work has contributed to public safety and provided more recognition and legal protections for police officers for the risk they are willing to take whilst protecting the public when driving in response to an emergency.

His national influence is also extensive in respect of his leadership of UK specialist command training and operations. wherein he is regularly sought out for advice, support and personally deployed. This extends to organisations outside of policing, where his knowledge, expertise and determination is seen to be of immense value.

DCC Woods is known as a strong and engaging leader, with a rare combination of high competence and high proficiency, and driving for organisational improvements.  Whenever time allows, he is often to be found working shifts with one of the many teams across the force.  He is genuinely liked and admired by those who work with him and for him.

Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson said: “I am delighted to see Deputy Chief Constable Woods recognised for his contributions to policing. He is an officer of exceptional calibre, with significant achievements that markedly exceed the requirements of his role, both locally and nationally.

“DCC Woods has been at my side at Greater Manchester Police, almost from the beginning of my tenure.   His drive and effectiveness have been central to the improvements we have seen over the past five years. He has worked diligently through programmes of complex change, while driving up core standards and performance in what is genuinely one of the most challenging operating environments in UK policing.”

DCC Terry Woods said: “I am extremely humbled and proud to be receiving an honour from HM the King. I would particularly like to thank my wife and family who have supported me over many years, making countless sacrifices, as is the case for so many Police families. I would also like to pay tribute to the thousands of Greater Manchester Police officers and staff who work tirelessly around the clock to keep the public safe, all of which have my deepest respect and recognition for their constant dedication and sacrifice.”

In 2021 Deputy Chief Constable Woods was awarded the Queen’s Policing Medal for his services to policing, being described as an ‘exemplary operational leader’.