Tom Halpin QPM
Deputy Chief Constable

Mr Halpin was appointed Deputy Chief Constable on 1 June 2006 after joining Lothian and Borders Police as the Assistant Chief Constable in April 2005.  He has specific responsibility for Corporate Development Department, Corporate Communication, Complaints Conduct and Professional Standards, as well as Deputising for the Chief Constable David Strang. 

As part of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland (ACPOS) Mr Halpin is a member of the Professional Standards Business Area and also has responsibility for the Family Protection portfolio and reports to the Crime Business Area on these matters.

He is a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD). In 2004 he attended the UK Strategic Command Course for police leaders at the Police Staff College, Bramshill.  He also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and Post Graduate Diploma in Applied Criminology.  

His career prior to joining Lothian and Borders Police is as follows:

He joined Strathclyde Police in 1979, when he was posted to 'C' Division, covering North Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire. He carried out a number of roles in both Uniform and CID before being appointed to the team responsible for the introduction of the HOLMES major enquiry system.

On promotion to Sergeant, he again served in both Uniform and CID at Force Headquarters, where he was seconded to the Lockerbie disaster investigation team.

In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Inspector within Research and Development Branch, where he undertook operational research and project management, before returning and continuing his association with 'C' Division as Detective Inspector.

During 1995, Mr Halpin was promoted to Chief Inspector within Complaints and Discipline Branch, where he was selected to attend the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Virginia. On his return, he took up post as Detective Chief Inspector at 'L' Division, covering West Dunbartonshire, Argyll and Bute.

His involvement in CID, both as a Senior Investigating Officer and strategic management of crime in the Force, continued through his promotion to Detective Superintendent, where he served in a number of posts covering the North of Glasgow, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and at Force Headquarters, both at Intelligence and CID Operations. During this period, he led a number of high profile investigations before being promoted in 2002 to Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of CID Operations across the Force.

Immediately prior to taking up his appointment with Lothian and Borders Police he was Divisional Commander for North Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire.

Mr Halpin was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in Her Majesty's Birthday Honours List in June 2008.