The head of Greater Manchester Police was presented with his knighthood by the Princess Royal during a ceremony at St James' Palace on Thursday.
Sir Stephen Watson, who leads England's second largest force, described receiving the honour as "genuinely humbling" and emphasised it belonged to his colleagues as much as himself.
"It is not just for me, it is for the people with whom I served with," he said. "It is a representation of the good work that they do and the difference that they make to people's lives."
The chief constable was recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for his "extensive commitment" to policing.
Sir Stephen Watson was presented with an knighthood by Princess Anne on Thursday
|PA
He acknowledged the collective effort behind his achievement, stating the honour rests "on the shoulders of many, many thousands of men and women" he works alongside.
Sir Stephen's policing career began in 1988 when he joined Lancashire Police as a constable.
Over the following decades, he served with several major forces including Merseyside Police, the Metropolitan Police and Durham Constabulary.
His appointment to lead GMP came in May 2021 under challenging circumstances, following the resignation of his predecessor while the force remained in special measures.
The organisation he inherited was considered the worst-performing in the country.
Since taking charge, Sir Stephen has overseen what has been described as one of the most rapid and comprehensive turnarounds in British policing, with GMP now ranked among the nation's top-performing forces.
Crime figures demonstrate the scale of improvement achieved under his leadership.
Sir Stephen Watson was awarded the knighthood for his his "extensive commitment" to policing
|PA
Overall offences have fallen by three per cent over the past year compared with the preceding 12-month period, while neighbourhood crime has dropped by 15 per cent.
The force has also recorded significant decreases in burglary, vehicle theft, robbery and offences involving firearms and knives.
Perhaps most striking is the transformation in tackling retail theft, with the number of shoplifting cases solved increasing by 534 per cent since 2021.
Sir Stephen attributed the recognition to his officers and staff, saying: "My being recognised in this way, whilst wonderful and humbling in equal measure, is more accurately a reflection of the quality and commitment demonstrated by the vast majority of the many thousands of officers and staff."
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The force gained international recognition for Operation Vulcan, which targeted the Cheetham Hill district of Manchester.
The area had previously earned a reputation as Europe's counterfeit capital, dominated by organised criminal networks.
Police have since effectively dismantled the operation, shutting down 216 shops and confiscating 1,000 tonnes of counterfeit goods.
Sir Stephen Watson took up his current role with GMP in 2021
|GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE
Sir Stephen dedicated his honour to officers across British policing who "strive to serve the public so faithfully and fearlessly."
His wife and children joined him at the investiture ceremony, and he paid warm tribute to their support.
"That I have always been able to count on their ceaseless love and support amounts to the most precious of my personal blessings," he said to ITV.
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