Sir David Veness
Honourary Professor

Sir David Veness is an Honorary Professor of International Relations with CSTPV at the University of St Andrews. David served as Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Safety and Security from its creation in 2005 until June 2009. This role carries responsibility for UN operations globally. Prior to this appointment, he was Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations) New Scotland Yard from 1994–2005. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a cadet in 1964 and as a constable in 1966. In the course of his police career he specialised in serious crime investigations, hostage negotiation and counter-terrorism. David was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge (MA, LLM) and attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1990. David was awarded Queen’s Police Medal in 1994, appointed CBE in 2000, was Knighted in 2004.