In 1981 he transferred to Surrey Constabulary as Deputy Chief Constable, but in 1984, along with David O'Dowd and Wyn Jones, he was one of a trio of young provincial rising stars who were appointed to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner in the Metropolitan Police as part of Commissioner Sir Kenneth Newman's drive for modernisation, being put in charge of the Complaints Investigation Bureau.
In 1989, he was shortlisted for the post of Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, but lost out to his colleague Hugh Annesley,[3] and, in March 1990, he was shortlisted for the post of Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, but again lost out to Ronald Hadfield.
In August 1990[5] he became HM Inspector of Constabulary for South East England, but in April 1991[6] returned to the Metropolitan Police once more as Deputy Commissioner,[3] a post he held until his retirement in 1995.
As Deputy Commissioner, he introduced a number of reforms, attempting to change police culture by making officers look on themselves as a "service" rather than a "force".
[7] He was widely expected to succeed Sir Peter Imbert as Commissioner on his retirement in 1993,[3][7][8] but the job went instead to Paul Condon.