GERRY O’CONNELL ASSOCIATES LTD UK (GOCA)
Minister of the Interior (UAE)
His Highness Sheik Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Receiving the Queen’s Police
Medal (QPM) from Queen
Elizabeth II
President of Ossim, First Recognised
Security & Intelligence Education
and Training Institute in Asia.
 
 
Security Background:
 
GERALD O’CONNELL, QPM  IS THE FOUNDER OF GOCA
   
Gerald O’Connell, QPM, is a distinguished International Expert in Policing, Private Security and Criminology.
He has worked all over the world with many different Governments and Law-Enforcement Agencies.
He worked in 3 major UK Police Forces – in all functions and ranks/roles- and finished his career as a Chief Officer of Police in one of the UK’s largest Police Forces, The Lancashire Constabulary, which under his leadership progressed to become the UK’s best Police Force  (according to government appraisals (2002/3).
He had worked for 22years in Merseyside Police (UK) and for five years with Sussex Police (UK).
During his time as a Chief Officer of Police he became renowned as a leader of change and reform of police organizations, and visited many parts of the world to study and research policing and security developments, such as Washington DC, Fairfax County, San Diego (USA), Rotterdam, Victoria Police (Melbourne), Jamaica and Mauritius.
In the UK he was a co-opted member of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Terrorism Committee.
He was the author of the ACPO Crime Prevention Strategy that was introduced nationally in the UK with the Governments Crime and Disorder Act, 1997.
In 1997 he was awarded the Queens Police Medal (QPM) for “distinguished services to British Policing” by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, at Buckingham Palace.  This is the highest police honour in the UK.
 
   
In 2013 Gerry O'Connell, became the Chairman of the Merseyside Branch ( UK) of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association ( SSAFA - see: www.ssafa.org.uk).

SSAFA is the oldest Tri-Military charity in the UK dating back to 1875, and has provided welfare services for military veterans , (including the Merchant Navy and Royal Marines) for over a 130 years.

In his Chairmen's role, Gerry is responsible for overseeing a fund-raising strategy for the Merseyside region of the UK ( raising up to £100K per year) and administering this charitable giving to veterans and their families in need of help whether this be financial, medical, welfare etc.   In Merseyside alone, SSAFA deals with approximately 600 cases of need for veterans each year.

Many veterans need special assistance having returned from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other theatres of war with severe wounds and/or psychological injuries.   SSAFA has specialist facilities to assist wounded military personnel to rehabilitate on their return to their homes and communities.

This is a voluntary role - without pay, is the volunteer spirit of SSAFA all volunteers throughout the UK giving their time freely as an expression of appreciation and support for the work of our armed forces and the sacrifices they and their families make on behalf of the nation.
   

 
 
Academic Background:
GERALD O’CONNELL, QPM,
BA(HONS), MBM, MSt (Cambridge):
 

Gerald O’Connell has a distinguished educational background and was educated at some of the top universities in the world.  He has the following qualifications:
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BA(Hons) Modern History and Politics – Liverpool University (1977-80).
Masters in Business Management (MBM) – Manchester Business School (1992-4).
Masters in Criminology and Policing (MSt) – Cambridge University (UK), (1998-2002).