Andy Cooke QPM – Chief Constable of Merseyside Police

Andy Cooke joined Merseyside Police in 1985 with an Honours Degree in politics from Nottingham University and has served as a detective at every rank.

He spent four years in Lancashire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable and in 2016, he was appointed Chief Constable of Merseyside Police. He is also the national lead for crime.

Andy has also been commended on ten occasions and in 2014 was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

He is married with twin daughters and is an avid Liverpool supporter although he fully recognises the fact that there are two fantastic Premier League teams in the city! He is also a regular attendee at St Helens RLFC, and is also the chair of the British Police Rugby League Association.

My Schools:

Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School (OLA), Belle Vale which was, and is, a great school. I passed my 11+ and then went to St Francis Xavier’s College in Woolton where I had my ups and downs (all self-inflicted!).

My Favourite Teacher:

In OLA, Mrs Ness, who is lovely. At SFX, Mr Devereux, whom I respected and liked the fact that he brought history alive, although he gave me the ferula (a type of cane) a few times!

My Favourite Subject at School:

Medieval history which is still a passion.

Were you streetwise or a bit of a geek?

Anything but a geek. I like to think I was streetwise but I was too smart-mouthed for my own good!

My Favourite Childhood Singer/Band:

Kraftwerk and Buzzcocks. I still listen to them. The most magical concert I went to though was Kate Bush at the Empire. Absolutely brilliant.

My Favourite Extra-Curricular Activity:

Playing football and cricket, watching Liverpool FC and hanging about with my mates.

Do you remember your first school crush?

Yes, in primary school with a girl from Christ the King who I met at Colomendy!

My Favourite Book:

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn. I’ve read it eight or nine times.

School Dinners:

I loved school dinners and I loved the dinner ladies (as they were called then). Cheese pie was my favourite and we always charmed the ladies into giving us seconds.

My Ambitions at School:

Since I can remember I wanted to join the police and be a detective. I was fortunate enough to fulfil that ambition and 34 years on, I am now the National Policing Head of Crime.