DIRECTOR SCOTTISH POLICE COLLEGE
John Geates QPM
As Director of the Scottish Police College, John Geates has overall responsibility for Scotland's central police training establishment.
John, a former Assistant Chief Constable with Strathclyde Police, started off his career in 1981 in Ayrshire, where he carried out beat duties before transferring to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with four years service. He has subsequently worked in Glasgow Divisions in uniform and CID capacities, and has been attached to the Serious Crime Squad as a Major Crime Investigation Team Leader, and was head of Strathclyde Police's Surveillance Unit.
In 1998, he was appointed Detective Superintendent and given responsibility for strategic CID management functions and policy making responsibilities, together with territorial accountability. During this time he was the Senior Investing Officer in a number of high profile category A murder enquiries including the William Beggs Dismemberment Investigation that resulted in the extraction of Beggs from Amsterdam before being convicted of murder.
Since then John has been Deputy Divisional Commander within the Maryhill Division in Glasgow, has introduced a Professional Standards unit into Strathclyde Police in relation to the investigation of internal corrupt practice, and has chaired national groups in relation to the introduction of corruption investigation, protocols and policies. He also served as Head of Corporate Planning and Development where he implemented business planning processes, qualitative frameworks, change management processes and performance management measurements to support the strategic direction of Strathclyde Police in meeting national priorities.
In 2004 John headed a joint external review team on behalf of HMCIC, of Police Officers and Social Workers, who conducted an investigation into Fife Constabulary and Fife Councils Management of a non registered sex offender who had murdered a 16 year old girl. Their report, which contained 20 strategic change recommendations, was fully endorsed by the Scottish Executive.
In August 2005, John was appointed head of the Engaging Criminality review team, where he led a review of the work of the CID within Strathclyde Police.
In January 2006, he headed a reinvestigation into the Nat Fraser murder enquiry. This involved investigating the work of Grampian Police and Crown Office and required him to lead a team of senior police officers, senior representatives from the Crown and Procurator Fiscals Service and report to the Lord Advocate for Scotland.
He was appointed as Deputy Director of the Scottish Police College in June, 2006.
He then took up the post of Director of the Scottish Police College in August 2007.