Richard Lewis (police officer)

File:Richard Lewis portrait.jpg

Richard Lewis was the chief constable of Dyfed-Powys Police.{{Cite web |title=New Chief Constable for Mid and West Wales Confirmed |url=https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/news/dyfed-powys/news/2021/july-2021/new-chief-constable-for-mid-and-west-wales-confirmed/}}

Career

Richard Lewis was born in Carmarthenshire in West Wales. Prior to being chief constable for Dyfed-Powys he served as the chief constable of Cleveland Police from April 2019. He started his policing career with Dyfed–Powys Police in 2000, where he worked in Uniform and CID. Lewis held every rank from constable to deputy chief constable whilst at Dyfed Powys Police, prior to becoming chief constable at Cleveland.{{cite web|title= Chief Constable Richard Lewis|url=https://www.cleveland.police.uk/about-us/ChiefOfficers/Chief-Constable.aspx|website=Cleveland Police|accessdate=24 May 2019}}

In April 2025, Lewis retired as Chief Constable of Dyfed Powys Police to take up the role of the Chief Executive of the Animal and Plant Health Agency

= Heddlu Cymru/Wales Police =

Chief Constable Richard Lewis has suggested an all-Wales police force "Heddlu Cymru/Wales Police" and stated, "(If) the Americans can put a man on the moon in eight years, I think we can unify four police services. Doing away with those borders means we can provide a more effective service."{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Nick |date=2022-03-29 |title=Dyfed-Powys Police chief wants unified Welsh force |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/dyfed-powys-police-chief-wants-23527601 |access-date=2022-05-04 |website=WalesOnline |language=en}}

Lewis came into some criticism after welcoming the WRU's decision to ban the song 'Delilah'.{{Cite web |last=Owen |first=Cathy |date=2023-02-02 |title=Top police officer lays out the reason fans should not sing Delilah |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/top-police-officer-lays-out-26138318 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2023-02-02 |title=Delilah: Rugby fans torn over WRU choir ban on Tom Jones song |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-64497520 |access-date=2023-12-21}}{{Cite web |last=James |first=Dylan |date=2023-02-03 |title=Piers Morgan ridicules Delilah ban as Wales legend describes decision as 'crazy' |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/piers-morgan-ridicules-delilah-ban-26147141 |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=Wales Online |language=en}}{{cite episode |title=Pennod 3 |series=Y Prif |first1= |last1= |first2= |last2= |first3= |last3= |first4= |last4= |network=S4C |date=December 2023 |season=1 |number=3 |language=Welsh}}