Suffolk Chief Constable Steve Jupp has been appointed as the National Police Lead for Serious Organised Crime (SOC).

This new full-time role will be funded by the Home Office and the NPCC. According to them "he will work closely with the NCA, police forces and a wide range of organisations with a role and expertise in tackling serious and organised crime."

Currently Graeme Biggar is interim Director General of the NCA following the decision by Lynne Owens to step down due to illness. A recruitment process is still ongoing for the £223,000pa post.  

CC Jupp is expected to take up the new post full time on the 3 October this year and wil retain his chief constable rank.

CC Jupp will coordinate national police action to tackle OCGs, working closely with the National Crime Agency (NCA).

He will be responsible for heading up and delivering the strategic policing plan to support the national priorities led and set by the NCA in tackling serious and organised crime.

He will oversee the coordination and strategic development of the Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) network on behalf of all police forces and the wider SOC System, in line with the vision set out in the ROCU Strategy 2030.

Director General of the National Crime Agency, Graeme Biggar, said:“Serious and organised crime is a corrosive threat to national  security. In leading the UK response, the NCA is clear that having the necessary focus, resources and capabilities at all levels of law enforcement is essential to meeting the challenge.

“This dedicated NPCC role will help to drive serious and organised crime priorities throughout policing, ensuring our collective response is most effective in protecting the UK’s people and economy."

CC Jupp’s 35-year career has focused on tackling the threat of serious and organised crime. Starting his career in the Metropolitan Police Service where his focus was on tackling serious and organised crime. In 1993, he moved onto the Regional Crime Squad, again focussing on serious and organised crime. In 1999 he returned to the MPS during which he developed the MPS response to armed robbery and investigated the London bombings. 

In 2009 he transferred to West Midlands Police where, as Head of Crime, he had responsibility for all levels of criminal investigations. In 2013 he went to Nottinghamshire Constabulary as an Assistant Chief Constable where he was responsible for crime investigation and reduction.

NPCC Crime Committee Chair Chief Constable Alan Pughsley, said: “As the serious organised crime lead, Steve will work alongside the NCA, police and partners to galvanise the whole system’s response to the considerable threat of serious and organised crime.

“Steve is an experienced police officer.  He has spent much of his career tackling serious organised crime and brings the experience of leading a police force as a chief constable.  I look forward to continuing to work alongside Steve.”