Osman Khan KPM has been named as the new Deputy Chief Constable (DCC) of West Yorkshire Police, following a national selection and interview process.
The announcement was made by Chief Constable John Robins QPM DL, who confirmed that DCC Khan, previously serving as an Assistant Chief Constable, will step into the role vacated by Catherine Hankinson QPM after her recent retirement.
Chief Constable Robins said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce the appointment of DCC Osman Khan. Osman has served the public of West Yorkshire for more than 25 years in a variety of roles across the county. He has a thorough understanding of the needs of our communities and understands the pressures on police officers and staff. His appointment also provides continuity and stability in our continued improvement of policing across West Yorkshire.
“I would like to pay tribute to our former DCC Catherine Hankinson QPM. Catherine has been an outstanding leader, providing drive and commitment to our recent force improvements. She will be hugely missed by all who worked with her. I wish her the very best in her well-earned retirement after thirty years in policing.”
Speaking after his appointment, Deputy Chief Constable Khan KPM said he was “extremely proud” to take on the role.
“I will continue to drive the force forward by supporting the efforts of our hard-working officers and staff, as well as working closely with partners and listening to communities to ensure we deliver the best policing service we can to the people of West Yorkshire.”
DCC Khan began his policing career in 2000 as a Constable at Eccleshill, before moving to Bradford South Division in 2004, where he rose through the ranks to Sergeant and Inspector.
He later moved to North East Leeds as a Detective Inspector, becoming a Detective Chief Inspector in 2011. His leadership roles have included serving the Professional Standards Directorate (PSD) and Kirklees District as Detective Superintendent.
Promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent in 2018, he returned to PSD as its head, before becoming Bradford’s District Commander in 2019. A year later he was appointed Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, taking on portfolios covering Specialist and Regional Crime, Local Policing and Safeguarding.
Leadership and recognition
Alongside his operational roles, DCC Khan is a Specialist Strategic Firearms Commander, Gold Public Order Public Safety Commander and Multi-agency Incident Commander. He is also a trained assessor, coach and mentor, and said he takes great pride in supporting the development of officers and staff across the force.
In January, he was awarded the King’s Police Medal as part of the New Year Honours 2025, an achievement he described as both “immensely proud” and “humbling.”
It is also a significant moment for representation within West Yorkshire Police at a senior level. The first Asian Deputy Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police was Jawaid Akhtar, who retired in 2014. A pioneering figure for the BAME community within the force, he served for more than 30 years and helped break down barriers for future officers of South Asian background.
Khan’s appointment builds on that legacy, signalling a continued commitment to inclusion and diversity within the region’s police leadership.
