Profile: soldier, jailer, cop - Kent’s new chief superintendent

Amanda Tillotson did not come to policing via a traditional route.  “I left school in 1988 with very limited qualifications and unsure really of what I wanted to do,” she told Police Oracle.  “I just happened to be out on my bike one day and cycled past Wembley Army careers… Amanda Tillotson became a Chief Superintendent with Kent earlier this month after filling the role temporarily. She spoke to Police Oracle about her unusual career path. ...

Downing Street plays down NCA appointment delay

A decision on the successor to Dame Lynne Owens is being delayed while the Home Office and Downing Street resolve the crucial appointment. Candidates for the top job at the National Crime Agency have been told the vacancy is to be re-opened to applicants. Both the Home Office and Number… Appointing a new head of the National Crime Agency is being held up by Whitehall wrangling....

Digital forensics: helping forces bridge the skills gap

Damian Walton joined the police when business computers were in their infancy and home computers didn’t exist. He completed his 30 years of service and is now the managing director of IntaForensics, which works alongside forces supporting them with the forensic analysis of digital devices. The company provides digital forensic… Police Oracle talks to a company headed up by a former officer which employs other ex-officers with niche skills to provide digital services to forces. ...

NCA Deputy Director General heads for defence sector

The National Crime Agency has lost a second member of its top team. Dr Nina Cope is standing down as Deputy Director General to start an unyet confirmed role at the Ministry of Defence. She joined the agency in 2017 from the High Speed 2 rail project where she was… A senior leader of the National Crime Agency is leaving the organisation to take up a new role....

First female MDP Deputy Chief Constable appointed

Former Met Commander Mel Dales has been appointed DCC of the MDP. The appointment follows Mel taking up post as Assistant Chief Constable, Nuclear and Marine during February this year, having served as a Commander in the Metropolitan Police Service and in a range of roles in Cambridgeshire Constabulary and… Melanie Dales is the first female MDP DCC in the Force’s 50-year history...

PSNI Chief says no to Met return

PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has become the latest senior officer to rule himself out of the running to be the successor to Dame Cressida Dick. In a statement, Mr Byrne – said he had not applied as he wanted to continue to delivering the modernisation plan with Police Service… Another big name has ruled out applying for the Met Commissioner’s job....

Chiefs talent pool tightens with two of the largest forces recruiting

West Midlands announced it has opened applications to find a new Chief Constable as it was revealed officials have been lobbying potential candidates to be the Metropolitan Police’s new Commissioner because some of the preferred choices have not applied. Like Norfolk did last year, the West Midlands Police and Crime… Two of the biggest jobs in policing are seeking candidates ...

Avon and Somerset appoints Assistant Chief Constable

Will White has temporarily filled the role since last summer. He first joined the force as a response officer in 1995, giving him 27 years of service to date. ACC White leads on investigation of serious and organised crime. He has overall responsibility for the Investigations and Operations Directorates, including… Will White has now been confirmed as one of the force’s Assistant Chief Constables. ...

Devon and Cornwall Chief to retire after nine years in post

CC Sawyer began his police service in 1986 with the Met. While there he headed up the investigation into the 1999 Ladbroke Grove rail disaster and was head of counter-terrorism.  He moved to Devon and Cornwall in 2010 as deputy chief constable before being made temporary chief constable in 2012.… CC Shaun Sawyer has announced his retirement as he plans to leave the force later this summer. ...

Forces remain on track for Uplift target, says Home Office

Forces remain on track with their targets for recruiting new officers, according to Home Office data. According to the latest quarterly update, shared by the College of Policing, there are now 13,576 officers recruited for the Uplift programme. It means forces have reached 68 per cent of the 20,000 target… The government remains on target for Uplift recruits, says the Home Office. But frontline officers say forces still aren’t up to strength....