William Hughes was appointed director general of the Serious Organised Crime Agency in August 2004. Prior to this he was the director general of the National Crime Squad, during which time he led the organisation in tackling serious and organised crime.

His career in the police force started in 1975 with Thames Valley
Police. He rose through the ranks to become Assistant Chief Constable in West Yorkshire Police from 1991 to 1997. Bill then served as deputy chief constable in Hertfordshire from 1997 to 2000 before joining the National Crime Squad.He is the UK Head of Delegation at European Police Chiefs Task Force.

In 2006, Bill joined the Employers’ Forum on Disability President’s Group. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2001 Birthday Honours list.