Meredydd Hughes

Meredydd John Hughes is a retired British police officer. He served as Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police from 1 September 2004 to 2011.

Hughes started his career at South Wales Constabulary in 1979, and was transferred to West Yorkshire Police in 1995 to a position of Superintendent. He was promoted in 1999 to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police. In 2002 he moved to South Yorkshire Police to take over the position of Deputy Chief Constable, before becoming the force's Chief Constable in 2004.

Hughes was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours.

Traffic controversy Hughes received press attention through being prosecuted for exceeding the speed limit in North Wales in May 2007. He received a 42-day driving ban and fine for the offence, imposed by Wrexham Magistrates Court on 5 December 2007. At the time of the offence he was Chair of the Roads Policing Enforcement Technology Committee for ACPO, resigning this position at the time of the court summons. He had also argued for less conspicuous Speed Cameras. In 2006 Hughes was fined £500 by Rotherham Magistrates Court for failing to identify the driver of a South Yorkshire Police vehicle, as a result of him mounting a prosecution against himself.

Politics In 2012, he revealed his intentions to stand as a Labour Party candidate for the South Yorkshire Police Police and Crime Commissioner, despite previously stating the creation of the position was a mistake. The nomination was contested between Hughes, Anglican Priest Alan Billings and Shaun Wright, a magistrate and local councillor. Shaun Wright won the nomination and was subsequently elected as the PCC.

Jay Report

In August 2014 Jay Report was published and outlined the widespread sexual abuse (and associated criminality) of young white girls in Rotherham by Britons of predominantly Pakistani origin. The report highlighted that the police did not respond appropriately to reports of abuse by concerned parents and guardians of the victims. Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police when the majority of criminality occurred - 2004-11 - was Meredydd Hughes.

Honours