Former Chief Constable joins University of Hertfordshire as visiting professor
Retired former Hertfordshire Chief Constable Charlie Hall QMP DL has joined the University of Hertfordshire as a visiting professor, bringing decades of policing leadership to campus.
Mr Hall will work with students across a range of programmes to deepen their understanding of policing and its role within wider society.
He will support those studying law, criminology and sociology, as well as students interested in careers in law enforcement or criminal justice. His work will connect with disciplines such as computer science, social work and paramedic science, for which close collaboration with the police is essential.
The appointment builds on the University’s growing partnership with Hertfordshire Constabulary. In December, it launched the Herts Network for Safer Communities and Digital Policing, combining academic expertise with operational experience to deliver innovative solutions for crime prevention, workforce development, and digital transformation.
Charlie Hall said:
“Policing is ever changing as society and technology changes, such as with the use of AI and digital forensics, so the next generation of policing professionals need to stay ahead of the curve and learn how to react and adapt to the pace of change. That’s why I believe the work going on between Hertfordshire Constabulary and the University is vital and that is why I can help to bring real-world understanding to how the law works in practice.”
Professor Penny Carey, Dean of Hertfordshire Law School and School of Education - which was ranked 9th in the UK for overall student satisfaction (National Student Survey, 2025) - said:
“Hertfordshire Law School prides itself on preparing our students for the real world as well as giving them an excellent academic education. Whether it is criminology students on groundbreaking initiatives inside prisons, students supporting solicitors in the court service or providing community legal assistance to those with greatest need at foodbanks, we are connecting our students to the world they will encounter after graduating.
“Charlie Hall’s role as a visiting professor here will complement our work brilliantly. His high-level operational insight and experience will be an invaluable resource for our students and our staff. We look forward to working with him and deepening our student experience.”
During his policing career, Charlie Hall progressed to the rank of Deputy Chief Constable in the Norfolk Constabulary before transferring to Hertfordshire Constabulary as Chief Constable in 2016. He retired in December 2024.
Among the initiatives he was closely involved with were the Operations Coordination Committee on behalf of the National Police Chiefs’ Council; overseeing policy and practice improvements across key operational policing capabilities including firearms and public order, and working across all the emergency services, first responders and government to transform joint working arrangements at major incidents. He received the Queen’s Police Medal for his efforts in 2016.
Among other roles, he is a strategic policing adviser to the Police Federation of England and Wales and in October 2025 was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant for the county of Hertfordshire, a role which supports the Lord Lieutenant, the King’s representative in the county, with discharging his broad responsibilities in support of the monarchy locally.