The Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu, will address delegates attending next month’s Society of Editor’s Annual Conference, it has been announced.
The Assistant Commissioner, who made headlines this year with comments aimed at the role of the media in covering terrorism and following leaked documents regarding the UK’s ambassador to the USA, will speak to editors and media industry representatives at Stationers’ Hall in London on November 12.
Mr. Basu, the Met’s former head of counter terrorism, sparked debate when he appeared to chastise sections of the media following the shooting outrage at a New Zealand mosque in March. The Assistant Commissioner also spoke out earlier this year when details of leaked documents revealing communications from UK Ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, detailing his thoughts on the Trump administration were published and led to his resignation.
Executive Director of the Society of Editors, Ian Murray, said he was delighted the Assistant Commissioner had agreed to speak to delegates and answer questions from editors and journalists attending the conference.
“The Assistant Commissioner has not shied away from expressing his thoughts on the role of the media. They have been forthright, and it is in character that he would take the opportunity to meet with the industry to discuss and debate his stance on media issues”.
Mr. Basu is the former UK Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism and led on the policing contribution to the Government’s CONTEST strategy for Pursue and Prevent. He has been at the forefront of counter terrorism policing during an unprecedented shift in threat and has been instrumental in strengthening police capability.
Mr. Basu has been commended 10 times during his career for bravery, leadership and detective ability, including two Commissioner’s Commendations. He was also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished service in 2016.
A full biography of Mr. Basu can be found at the foot of this page.
Mr. Basu joins a strong list of speakers and panellists attending this year’s Society of Editors’ Conference at Stationers’ Hall on November 12.
No less than four national newspaper editors will debate issues: Chris Evans of The Daily Telegraph, Alison Phillips of The Mirror, and Christian Broughton of The Independent.
Others taking part include Elizabeth Denham, the UK Information Commissioner.
Debates will tackle such issues as the role of the editor in today’s evolving newsroom, the continuing value of investigative journalism, the future shape of the digital newsroom and challenges and threats to the UK’s free media.
A full list of speakers and panellists, as well as details on how you can secure a place at the conference can be found here.
On the evening of November 12, the Society, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, will stage a gala dinner also at Stationers’ Hall where veteran journalist and broadcaster Kate Adie will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. A few places are still available for the dinner itself.
Full biography of Met Assistant Commissioner, Neil Basu:
Neil Basu is the Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations (ACSO) in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the senior officer in charge of Counter Terrorism (CT) policing in the UK; a position he has held since March 2018. Prior to this he was the UK Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism and led on the policing contribution to the Government’s CONTEST strategy for Pursue and Prevent. Whilst in this role he led the national policing response to the five terrorist attacks and the fourteen disrupted attack plots since March 2017. Neil has been at the forefront of Counter Terrorism policing during an unprecedented shift in threat and has been instrumental in strengthening police capability, an increasing join-up with community policing, closer working with intelligence partners and an increase in preventative interventions to counter radicalisation.
As ACSO, he represents CT Policing in its engagement with Government on operational and policy issues associated with tackling terrorism, espionage and proliferation. This portfolio also includes responsibility for the investigation of War Crime, Official Secrets Act offences and protection of VIPs, Royals, Embassies and Parliament.
Neil joined the MPS in 1992 having completed a BA (Hons) degree in Economics at Nottingham University, and three years working in the private sector (Banking and Sales Management).
He is a career detective having served in every rank from TDC to Detective Superintendent in Territorial Policing (Battersea, Brixton, Streatham, Merton); Anti-Corruption as a DI and DCI with CIB3 2000-2002; as a DCI and SIO with Trident Homicide 2003-2006; (where he dealt with 17 Cat A murders including the conviction of a double murderer that gained Trident’s first 40 year sentence without parole). In 2006 he transferred to Serious and Organised Crime as a Detective Superintendent running proactive teams tackling drugs and firearms criminality; he was the lead for Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese Organised Crime, and performed the role of Kidnap and Extortion Commander. From 2008-2009 he was staff officer to Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson, and in April 2009 was promoted to Chief Superintendent and became Borough Commander of Barnet until January 2012.
In April 2012 he graduated first in class from the Bramshill Strategic Command Course. Since then he has held a variety of Chief Officer roles including the Commander for South East London; Commander Armed Policing; Commander for Operations Weeting/Elveden and Tuleta; (the enquiries into media and public sector corruption) and Commander Gangs and Organised Crime. He was also the national lead for Less Lethal Weapons from 2013-2016 and introduced the Taser X2 to British Policing.
In 2015 Neil was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in Specialist Operations, beginning his Counter Terrorism career as the London lead for Protection and Security. This included the Operational Command Units of Royalty and Specialist Protection, Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection (PaDP), Aviation Policing (AP) and Protective Security Operations (PSO). In 2016 he became the Senior National Coordinator for CT investigations, and led the investigative response to the 5 2017 UK terrorist attacks and 14 foiled plots. In March 2018, he was appointed as ACSO and his first job was to deal with the aftermath of the Salisbury nerve agent attack. Neil has been commended 10 times during his career for bravery, leadership and detective ability, including two Commissioner’s Commendations. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) for distinguished service in 2016.
Neil re-married in October 2018, and enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons, film, sport (any but preferably rugby, tennis and cricket), music and motorcycling.
The Society of Editors’ 20th Anniversary Conference is kindly sponsored by:
