She has been Deputy Chief Constable with the force for 18 months and previously was Assistant Chief Constable for Kent Police. The recruitment process was triggered by CC York’s decision to retire, which he announced in March.

At Sussex she has led the development of Tactical Enforcement Units, rural crime teams and stalking investigators. She is the NPCC National Lead for the policing of Children and Young People.

She began her policing career in Norfolk in 1993, serving up to the rank of Chief Superintendent. She then transferred on promotion to Kent as Assistant Chief Constable in 2014, before joining Sussex Police as Deputy Chief Constable at the end of 2018.

During that time she has undertaken a wide variety of roles including Child and Adult Protection Units, CID and as a firearms, public order and critical incident commander. 

It is understood that she beat three other “excellent” candidates in what was described as a very close decision.

Members of the interview panel included Lynne Owens, Director-General of the National Crime Agency, retired Air Vice-Marshal Bob Judson and Dianne Newton who is an Associate Assessor for the College of Policing.

According to the force, her two main priorities will be increasing visibility among local communities and reducing offending in rural areas of the county.

Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said: “Jo Shiner has a wealth of operational policing experience at all levels and has already demonstrated a passion for Sussex, its people and police force, in her role as Deputy Chief Constable over the last 18 months.

“She believes in achieving this through proactive policing, tougher enforcement, successful community engagement and a greater policing presence in our towns and villages. These are all the things the public have told me they want.”

Subject to confirmation, she will start her new role at the end of the month and CC York will retire on Thursday.

Jo Shiner said: “Sussex Police is a fantastic force and, subject to confirmation by the Police and Crime Panel, I am committed to ensuring that we continue to provide the very best possible service to the public, through protecting our communities and making Sussex a hostile environment to criminals.”