Senior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer Neil Basu has been appointed as the counter-terrorism chief by the UK Metropolitan Police, an official statement said.
Currently, Basu is the Senior National Coordinator for counterterrorism (CT) policing and AC Rowley’s deputy, a position he has held since October 2016.
Basu will take over from AC Mark Rowley as head of the Met’s Specialist Operations when AC Rowley retires later this month.
On joining the management board of the Met, he said, “It is a privilege to lead for CT policing at such a point in our history. It is both a challenge and a duty that I accept with humility and a sense of great purpose. I will lead to the best of my ability, the most extraordinary people I have ever worked with as they work night and day to counter terrorism.”
Basu was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 2015 and at that time was posted to lead on protection and security, including Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Aviation Policing and Protective Security Operations.
He took up his current role as Senior National Coordinator for counterterrorism on October 17, 2016, responsible for delivering the police response to pursuing terrorists and the Prevent strategy.
Commenting on Neil Basu’s appointment, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said, “He takes on a job of enormous importance and responsibility leading counterterrorism policing nationally and in London and is a worthy successor to Mark Rowley. Neil has the skills, experience and character we need. He has already undertaken some of the toughest jobs in policing, not least in the last year as senior national coordinator countering terrorism and has proven how good his judgment and resilience is.”
He will take over as Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations on March 21.