Jo Shiner set to make history
The top job at Sussex Police is set to be held by a woman for the first time in its history, with Jo Shiner being chosen as the preferred candidate for chief constable.
The top job at Sussex Police is set to be held by a woman for the first time in its history.
Jo Shiner described being ‘humbled and privileged’ after being chosen as the preferred candidate to be the force’s new chief constable.
She has been Sussex Police’s deputy chief constable for the past 18 months and was previously assistant chief constable for Kent Police.
Ms Shiner will succeed Giles York, subject to a confirmation hearing by the Sussex police and crime panel due to be held later this month.
She said: “I feel very humbled and privileged to be given the opportunity to be the preferred candidate for the chief constable of Sussex. 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.
“I look forward to continuing to work closely with the police and crime commissioner, colleagues and partners to provide the best policing to the community.”
Ms Shiner started her career in Norfolk in 1993, serving up to the rank of chief superintendent, before transferring to Kent.
She undertook a wide variety of roles, predominantly operational, both in uniform and within the child and adult protection unit, CID and as a firearms, public order and critical incident commander.
As deputy chief constable in Sussex, Ms Shiner has worked hard to ensure extra investment into the force delivers visible results for the county, including the tactical enforcement units, rural crime teams, local resolution teams and extra DA and stalking investigators. She has also been overseeing investment in new PSCOs and road policing officers.
She took over as NPCC national lead for the policing of children and young people at the start of this year and is also the NPCC national lead for police fitness.
Outside of work she is a trustee of charity Embrace (Child Victims of Crime), has previously volunteered and raised money for The Prince’s Trust and is also an active member and keen supporter of a number of charities including the Beachy Head Chaplains, which saves hundreds of lives every year.
Joining Sussex PCC Katy Bourne on the interview panel were: Lynne Owens, directorgeneral of the National Crime Agency; Air Vice-Marshal Bob Judson (retired senior Royal Air Force officer and Sussex resident) and Mrs Dianne Newton (an experienced associate assessor for the College of Policing, appointed by Mrs Bourne as an independent observer).
Mrs 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. Throughout this time she has really impressed me with her commitment to making our county an even safer place in which to live and work. 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.”