Gerry McLean joined Strathclyde Police in 1986 and undertook various operational uniformed and plain clothes investigatory roles including CID, working on numerous Major Incidents throughout Glasgow.
In 2001, Mr McLean was seconded to the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and formed part of the covert resource aimed at tackling serious organised crime. In 2005, he was promoted back to Strathclyde Police working within intelligence management (CHIS) and later performing a wider covert management role to several major investigations.
In 2011, Mr McLean took charge of the Counter Terrorism Intelligence capability within the force and working closely with Intelligence partners, led much of the business change process and transition to Police Scotland before being promoted to Detective Superintendent. He played a key ‘business change’ role in the migration of the newly formed Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit (OCCTU) to the Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh and in 2015, he was promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent taking up the role as Head of Organised Crime and Counter Terrorism Unit. The role provided strategic direction to a command of over 1000 investigators and experts in the field of Covert Policing, Cyber threats, Economic Crime & Financial Investigation.
In 2019, following 33 years in policing, Mr McLean joined the NCA and was appointed as the Regional Head of Investigations for Scotland & NI. He is the agency’s portfolio lead for surveillance and integral to the successful development and delivery of NCA covert capabilities within Northern Ireland. As well as representing the NCA on national surveillance groups, he works closely with a range of European & International partners in developing law enforcement’s response to organised crime.
