Gibraltar Police Authority

His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst KCVO,CBE, actingon the advice oftheGibraltarPoliceAuthority in accordancewith the provisions of the 2006 Gibraltar Constitution Order, has appointed Mr Owain Ceri Richards as the Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police, on the retirement of Mr Richard Ullger. Mr Richards will take up appointment on the 1st July 2025 for an initial tenure of four years.

H.E. The Governor, Lt Gen Sir Ben Bathurst said: 'I'd like to offer my warmest congratulations to Commander Owain Richards for being selected for the role of Commissioner ofthe Royal Gibraltar Police, in succession to Commissioner Richard Ullger who moves on to a well-deserved retirement after 37 years of service. Owain brings a wealth of experience from Dyfed-Powys Police and the Metropolitan Police, spanning the challenges of community policing, serious and complex crime, and safeguarding vulnerable people. He will bring a fresh approach to policing Gibraltar, leveraging the latest techniques and concurrently, he will draw on the depth of experience of the RGP.'

The Chair ofthe Gibraltar Police Authority, Peter Montegriffo KC, said: ‘I am delighted on behalf of Gibraltar Police Authority to welcome the appointment of Commander Owain Richards as the new Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police force. The GPA has undertaken a fair, open and thorough recruitment process. This has involved the assessment of both internal RGP and external candidates, each of whom have demonstrated extensive experience and policing expertise. I would like to thank outgoing Commissioner Richard Ullger for his many years of dedicated commitment to the RGP and Gibraltar. We look forward to working with Mr Richards and the other senior officers of the RGP at this challenging time for law enforcement.’

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: ‘I would like to congratulate Commander Owain Richards on his appointment to be the next Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police to succeed Richard Ullger. I was delighted atthe very high standard of applications this role attracted. Our intention has been to get the best possible resource for the RGP at this time when policing is facing a number of new and complex challenges. The Government looks forward to working with Mr Richards in dealing with them and keeping Gibraltar safe.’

Responding to his appointment, Commander Owain Richards said: 'I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Commissioner of the Royal Gibraltar Police and look forward to leading the force in serving and protecting the people of Gibraltar. Policing is built on trust, partnership, and professionalism, and I am committed to strengthening community relationships,tackling crime, and ensuring the highest standards of service. My focus will be on keeping Gibraltar safe for all who live, work and visit here, and I look forward to working with officers, staff, and partners to achieve that goal.’

Biography - Owain Richards

Commander, Metropolitan Police Service, London

Commander Owain Richards brings nearly 30 years of policing experience across Dyfed-Powys Police and the Metropolitan Police Service. He began his career within rural communities in Wales in 1996, serving in both uniform and detective roles before transferring to London in 2015.

In the Met, Owain led teams tackling gangs, knife crime, and child exploitation, later overseeing safeguarding across four boroughs. As Chief Superintendent from 2021, he commanded Westminster Borough - one of the UK’s largest local policing units in a political environment, driving cultural change, crime performance and enhanced partnerships.

Taking on the role of Commander in 2023, Owain joined the Met’s Executive Leadership Team, overseeing 10 London Boroughs within frontline policing and leading the community policing response to tensions arising from the Israel-Hamas conflict, and spearheading the Met’s response to organised smartphone crime.

He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Criminology and Police Management from the University of Cambridge. Passionate about community-focused policing, he is committed to strengthening public trust and crime prevention in Gibraltar. Outside work, he enjoys running, cycling, Welsh rugby and the great outdoors with his wife and children.