Sir Hugh joined the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1977 and initially served in Central London. On promotion to sergeant he moved to Brixton followed by further promotion to inspector after which he held a number of posts in south and south east London.

As chief inspector he was appointed as staff officer to Deputy Assistant Commissioner (SW London) and then took command of the Territorial Support Group as a Superintendent. Between 1994 and 1997 he was responsible for the management of major crime investigation across SW London. This was followed by command of the Community, Safety and Partnership portfolio where he was involved in the development of community and race relations training and strategy for the MPS.

He was appointed Commander (Crime) for SW London in June 1998 and in April 1999 was the officer in command of the bomb at Brixton. Hugh was also responsible for the development of Operation Trident set up to deal with crack cocaine and murders whilst in this post. He has worked in Jamaica in relation to this operation and has also been involved in the Commissioner’s initiatives in training a new Organised Crime Force in South Africa

He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in October 1999 and was given day to day responsibility for the Commissioner’s Enquiry (Stevens III) into collusion and the murder of a prominent solicitor in Northern Ireland. He was appointed to the post of Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in May 2002 and took up his position on 1st September 2002.

Sir Hugh is a graduate of the FBI National Executive Institute. He also holds a Degree in Public Administration and an hon. doctorate in Civil Law from the University of Kent.

In January 2006 Sir Hugh was elected Vice-President of the Association of Chief Police Officers for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

In April 2008 Sir Hugh received the annual Leadership Award from the Police Executive Research Forum. This award recognised his extraordinary achievements in managing the massive change which took place around Policing in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. Each year the Leadership Award is granted to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to law enforcement and focuses on those who portray the highest leadership standards at a national level. This is the first time it has been presented to someone from the United Kingdom.

In April 2009, Sir Hugh was elected as President of the Association of Chief Police fficers. This appointment is indicative of the high esteem in which Sir Hugh is held, and the confidence his fellow Chief Officers have in his ability to steer policing at a national level in the 21st century. Sir Hugh took up his new role on 1st September 2009.