Profile
Head of Operational Support Services
Chief Inspector Jacqui McIlwraith
Jacqui was promoted to Chief Inspector on 27 April 2009 and is the head of our Operational Support Services.
The department is based in Headquarters and is responsible for a number of specialist areas in the force, such as; the Force Communications Centre, Road Policing and Road Safety, Community Services, Specialist Support Services, Criminal Justice and Warrants Administration.
In over 20 years of service, Jacqui has served in both divisions and in beat uniform and in investigative detective work. She joined the Strathclyde police in 1990 and served four years in Glasgow city centre before transferring to Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary on 1994.
She worked in Stranraer for six months before moving onto Newton Stewart. Jacqui built up close community links in Wigtownshire and served the area for seven years as crime prevention officer. During this time she also had short spells as a Detective in Dumfries and was involved the Lockerbie enquiry in Holland. In 2001 she transferred to Headquarters in Dumfries and worked in the media department. A year later she was appointed Staff Officer to the Deputy Chief Constable.
Jacqui was promoted to Detective Sergeant in Dumfries CID in October 2002 and investigated serious crimes with the unit for 18 months until she was promoted again to shift Inspector in Loreburn Street in April 2004. This new role made her responsible for all operational policing in Dumfries during her shift.
Jacqui returned to her old Wigtownshire beat in February 2005 as Area Commander Inspector. Her new post made her responsible for all operational policing in Newton Stewart and all its surrounding areas. For the following eleven months she used her previous knowledge of the area from earlier in her career to good use.
Jacqui then had secondments with HM Inspectorate of Education and the local Child Protection Committee before she went back to her operational policing role of Burgh Inspector of Dumfries in May 2007. She served in this position until her most recent promotion to Chief Inspector.
During her career Jacqui has trained to be a bronze/silver, commander in Public Order. She has also been a successful participant of the accelerated promotion scheme. This scheme is specific to Scotland and she was the first member of staff to be accepted in Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary. In addition she has a BA degree in English with Film and Media studies and an MSC in Community Safety.
Another highlight in a distinguished career was when she received a Commendation for introducing the Restorative Justice scheme to the Force and to the Scottish Government. This was later taken up by other Scottish police forces.
A native of Kirkcudbright, in her spare time Jacqui enjoys walking her dogs in the many rural beauty spots nearby.
