Neil Basu QPM has been awarded the prestigious Non-Fiction Award at the Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025 for his powerful memoir Turmoil: 30 Years of Policing, Politics and Prejudice. The book offers a candid, insider’s perspective on Basu’s extraordinary career in British policing—tracing his journey from constable to Assistant Commissioner, and shedding light on some of the most complex challenges facing law enforcement today, including institutional racism, counter-terrorism, and political accountability.
Now 56, Basu retired in 2022 following a 30-year career in the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), culminating in his role as Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations (ACSO) and national lead for Counter Terrorism Policing. From 2015 to 2021, he held the three most senior posts in UK counter-terrorism—a unique achievement during one of the most volatile periods in recent British history. Under his leadership, UK forces responded to 12 terrorist attacks, foiled 29 plots, and arrested over 600 suspects. He also led the investigation into the 2018 Salisbury Poisonings, the largest counter-terrorism operation in UK history, and regularly briefed prime ministers and home secretaries on matters of national security.
Basu joined the police in 1992, after graduating with a BA (Hons) in Economics from the University of Nottingham and a stint in banking and sales. A committed detective, he rose through every rank, becoming a senior investigating officer in 2000 and specialising in serious organised crime, anti-corruption, and gang-related violence. While working on Operation Trident, he led 17 murder investigations and secured the unit’s first 40-year sentence in the complex Byfield case. His expertise later extended to armed operations and he became qualified to order a critical shot in the event of a terrorist incident.
Throughout his career, Basu was commended ten times for bravery, leadership, and investigative excellence, and received the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service. He graduated top of his class from the prestigious Strategic Command Course in 2012, which he went on to lead in 2021 as a non-executive director at the College of Policing. He has also been an influential voice on diversity in policing, and has consistently challenged the institution to confront the legacy of racism, including its failure to fully accept the findings of the 1999 Macpherson Inquiry.
Since his retirement, Basu has continued to shape public discourse through writing, speaking, and consultancy. His company, Altior Vocatio 241 Ltd—Latin for “Higher Calling”—advises on criminal justice, national security, leadership, and inclusion. He has published articles in The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph, and Eastern Eye, and contributed to academic journals on the use of force and counter-terrorism. He also serves as a trustee of Police Care UK and GRIT, is patron of the terrorism information-sharing network TinyG, and is a senior associate at The Police Foundation, Crest Advisory, and EY.
A family man with three sons, Basu enjoys music, films, motorsports, and weightlifting. His memoir Turmoil not only recounts a remarkable policing career but also issues a call for change in how Britain understands justice, power, and service. The ACTA Non-Fiction Award recognises both his literary achievement and his continued public service.
