Mark Rowley is the Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations (ACSO) in the Metropolitan Police Service and is in charge of UK Counter Terrorism (CT) policing in the UK (since June 2014). Mark has led during an unprecedented surge of threat, strengthening police capability, increasing join-up with community policing and closer working with intelligence partners. Results are an increase in preventative interventions to counter radicalisation (helping 850 each year), a 42% increase in terrorism related arrests and 20 attack plots prevented during this period. The tragic events of 2017 have seen a testing of the strengthened command, firearms and response arrangements that Mark has overseen.
He represents the police with Government on CT issues and his portfolio also includes the protection of VIPs, Royals, Embassies and Parliament.
Mark joined the MPS as an Assistant Commissioner in December 2011, immediately after the London riots. He led the response to these events, transforming approaches to policing gangs (reducing shootings by 42%) and public order. He also led on areas such as fraud and organised crime and was responsible for major police operations such as policing the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Prior to joining the MPS, Mark was Chief Constable of Surrey for four years. He led a radical change program, addressing austerity budget cuts yet increasing frontline officers whilst leading Surrey to have the highest level of public confidence in UK policing.