From Challenge to Change: Meet Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray

Policing can be tough, especially for those from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic backgrounds. In this blog, we chat with our Assistant Chief Constable Dennis Murray, who’s gone from a tough start in life to becoming one of the highest-ranking Asian officers in Thames Valley Police. He shares his story, the challenges he’s faced, and why he believes real change comes from getting involved.

Dennis Murray 

Role: Assistant Chief Constable- Legitimacy and Public Value

Age at joining: I joined TVP in 1991 at 21 as a Special Constable and then became a Police Officer.

Length of Service: Over 32 years

Tell us a bit about your background (e.g. studies, work experience, family) & what attracted you to policing? Did your friends and family support your decision to join the police?

I am an Anglo-Indian male whose family moved to the UK from India in the early 1960s. When I was 13, my father passed away. We came from a very poor background, and I was a free school meals child.

When my younger brother was just seven years old, he suffered a nervous breakdown after being racially bullied. He was found hiding under the stairs, painting himself white. In the 1970s, the police response at the time was simply that it was not a policing matter.

As a result, my family’s trust in the police was very low. I grew up on a council estate where drugs and criminality were part of daily life. I left school without any academic qualifications and spent my early working years in a variety of roles within the building industry.

In 1991, I joined Northamptonshire Police as a Special Constable, and the following year, I became a regular officer.

What do you want people to know about what it’s like being a TVP officer from a Black/ Asian Ethnic minority background?

I joined the police with no formal educational qualifications. Policing gave me not only an education but also a fulfilling career and incredible opportunities. It enabled me to grow, rising to become one of the highest-ranking Asian police officers, earning a Master’s degree in Police Leadership, and being awarded the Queen’s Police Medal (QPM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

If you want to see change, you have to be that change. Nothing will ever shift if you remain on the sidelines.

What challenges/ barriers did you face as a Black/ Asian Ethnic Minority Background?

My family had a number of negative experiences with the police. It was a tough decision to join, but the right one. In policing, I occasionally had silly comments such as “he has only been promoted because he is black” or externally racist abuse from members of the public, but the benefits far outweighed the negative aspects.

Did you feel supported in your workplace?

Very much so. I have had lots of experiences and opportunities to be my best. Much of this is about attitude. A positive attitude, commitment to delivering well, and supportive leaders have allowed me to thrive. It hasn’t all been a walk in the park, but I have had a fantastic career.

Best moment of your career within TVP?

There have been many proud moments, but receiving the Queen’s Police Medal is certainly one of them. Another is the opportunity to coach and mentor others, helping them to grow and succeed in their careers.

However, my proudest achievement was becoming an Assistant Chief Constable. This role carries the power to inspire, because seeing someone who looks like you in that position can make all the difference. If it were possible for me, it’s possible for others too.

What is the best piece of advice you can give to anyone from a Black/ Asian Ethnic Minority background considering joining the force?

Do it. Change comes from within. Don’t let the negatives dominate- your policing career is what you make it.

There are many career opportunities in policing. Would you consider any in particular in the future?

I aspire to become the first Asian Chief Constable of a non-Metropolitan police force. While Neil Basu’s role as Assistant Commissioner in the Met is an equivalent and a hugely significant achievement, it remains important to recognise this distinct milestone.

When you look back on when you first joined, do you believe things have changed or are changing?

I believe things are changing, though it often feels like two steps forward and one step back. Despite the challenges, we are moving in the right direction. Policing can be inconsistent, and national events such as riots sometimes complicate progress. Even so, positive change is happening, albeit not always at the pace people would hope for.

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If you’re ready to make a difference and be part of a rewarding career that challenges and inspires you every day, why not join us as a Police Officer?

To find out more about a policing career with TVP – including the realities of working on a response, initial training, and applying to become a Police Officer, please visit our Police Officer page.