Carmel Napier


Carmel Napier, QPM was Chief Constable of Gwent Police in South Wales.

Early life

Napier holds a BA Honours degree in English and Music; a Licentiate of Trinity College London, and a Diploma in Applied Criminology from the Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge.

Police career

Napier joined Hertfordshire Constabulary in 1983. She was then promoted to Superintendent with North Yorkshire Police, the head of the Complaints and Professional Standards Department. In 2002, she was promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent as Head of Specialist Support. After completion of the Strategic Command Course, she was appointed Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. In October 2006 she joined Essex Police as Assistant Chief Constable responsible for the Territorial Policing and Partnerships.
On 4 September 2008, she joined Gwent Police as Deputy Chief Constable, appointed Chief Constable-designate in January 2011, a position she fulfilled from April 2011.
Napier resigned from Gwent Police in June 2013 following a threat from the then Police and Crime Commissioner, Ian Johnston, that if she did not leave he would dismiss her. Johnston disagreed with Napier’s management style and claimed crime figures had been manipulated. During a review of the role of PCC’s both Napier and Johnston appeared before a House of Commons select committee to give accounts of her resignation.

Personal life

Napier's husband James is a retired businessman.

Honours