Sir David Veness, former Under-Secretary-General for Safety and

Security, Department of Safety and Security, United Nations.

 David served as the first Under-Secretary-General of the

UN Department of Safety and Security from its creation in

2005 until June 2009.  This role carries responsibility for

UN operations globally.  Prior to this appointment,

he was Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations)

New Scotland Yard from 1994-2005.

 

He joined the Metropolitan Police as a cadet in 1964 and

as a constable in 1966.  In the course of his police career

he specialised in crisis management, serious crime investigations,

hostage negotiations and counter-terrorism.

 

He is presently an Honorary Professor of Terrorism Studies at the Handa Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence at the University of St. Andrews (Fife, Scotland) and Co-Chair of the Consultative Board of the UK National Cross Sector Security & Communications project (CSSC) which seeks to enhance overall public protection by greater public/private sector co-operation.  This project was initiated prior to the London Olympics & Paralympics in 2012 and proved to be a success which has been sustained and enhanced since to optimise benefit for public security.

 

In addition, he undertakes international strategic advisory tasks in counter-terrorism capacity and capability building, especially in developing nations.

David was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (MA, LLM) and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1990.

He was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 1994, appointed as a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 and was Knighted in 2004.