‘Chief appointment brings stability to Force’

5 December 2022

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris has welcomed the appointment of Rachel Kearton as the Force’s new Chief Constable and congratulated her on her new role.

Ms Kearton takes over from Steve Jupp who left in September and said she was “immensely proud” to be appointed and “honoured to lead such an exceptionally dedicated workforce”.

Darren said he felt the appointment was a positive step which brought stability to the Force.

He said: “I was part of one of the internal stakeholders’ panels so I have been involved in the process and I am really pleased that she has been appointed as our new Chief Constable.”

Darren said the new Chief had set out her views on the direction the Force should take and the challenges it faced.

He said: “She also touched on demand and measuring our demand and seeing where that has changed and I think that is really important in this financial crisis because, let’s face it, I doubt that we are going to get more money out of the Government for policing.

“But we also need to see where our demand is coming from and to make sure it is our demand and we are not doing someone else’s work for them.”

Darren said Ms Kearton was taking over as Chief Constable at a challenging time for policing.

“I think it is a tough time but we have already started that work and Rachel has been part of the work that we have done,” he said. “She has a clear vision of where the Force is.”

He added: “She has been here for seven years now as part of Suffolk Constabulary so she should have that idea of where we have been and where we are going and is in a great place to move forward with it.”

Ms Kearton becomes the county’s first ever female Chief Constable.

Darren said: “I think that is really important and she has already touched upon the diversity in our new recruits.

“I meet our new recruits and we are seeing a bigger influx of female officers joining Suffolk Constabulary but we want to improve on those percentages and I think the time has come that we have a first female Chief Constable and it’s an exciting time for the Force. 

“I do place my trust in her and a lot of that comes down to stability within the Force. Our members want stability in this time of uncertainty.

“If an external candidate had come in then that would have brought with it new and exciting things as well but at this time I think it’s right that we have an internal candidate that has got the role and will take us forward over the next five to six years.”

Ms Kearton joined Suffolk Constabulary in September 2015 as Assistant Chief Constable, following a career break during which time she worked for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Turkey.

She previously served with police forces in Hampshire, West Yorkshire and Northumbria. Ms Kearton was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable in Suffolk in 2019 and has been the Temporary Chief Constable since Mr Jupp's departure. 

Following her appointment, Ms Kearton said: “I am immensely proud to be appointed as Suffolk’s Chief Constable.

“I believe the quality of officers, staff and volunteers in Suffolk is very high. I am honoured to lead such an exceptionally dedicated workforce.

“My chief officer team and I are committed to relentlessly pursuing high standards and to serving all communities, fairly and equitably.”