On 28 February 2005, David Veness took up his present role at the United Nations as Under-Secretary-General for Safety and Security, heading the newly created Department of Safety and Security (DSS).
Since taking up this post, Mr Veness has focused on bringing the Department to a gold standard of professionalism recognized by both international public and private entities in the security field. He has traveled to the most volatile areas where the United Nations operates, not only to directly assess and ensure the security and safety of UN staff and premises, but also to personally meet with the men and women responsible for the delivery of the Department’s mandate.
Prior to his present assignment, Mr Veness served as Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police Service in London, a post he held since April 1994.
Mr Veness joined the Metropolitan Police Cadet Corps in 1964, the Metropolitan Police in 1966 and became a CID officer in 1969. Trained as a hostage negotiator in 1979, he was one of the negotiating team at the Iranian Embassy siege (1980) and led the negotiations at the Libyan Peoples Bureau incident in 1984. He was an instructor and then Director of the Scotland Yard Negotiators Course between 1980 and 1987 and has acted in an advisory capacity in cases involving sieges and aircraft hijackings in various locations.
Mr Veness was appointed Commander in 1987 and served with Royalty and Diplomatic Protection until 1990. During this period, he was also responsible for security arrangements at major State events. After attendance at the Royal College of Defence Studies in 1990, he became Commander Public Order, Territorial Security and Operational support.
After being promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Specialist Operations, Crime, in November 1991, Mr Veness took command of the specialist crime squads at Scotland Yard.
Promoted to Assistant Commissioner on 5 April 1994, he assumed charge of all Specialist Operations including protection, terrorism, security and organized crime. He was also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the same year and appointed a Commander of the British Empire in June 2000. In December 2004 he was conferred as Knight Bachelor.
Mr Veness was educated at Raynes Park County Grammar School in south London and Trinity College, Cambridge (Master of Arts and Master of Law).
