‘It will be the greatest honour of my life’ – new chief constable for Avon and Somerset

Avon and Somerset’s new chief constable said policing is at a “watershed moment” as she vowed to work tirelessly to gain and keep public trust.

Sarah Crew has officially been appointed to the top job 27 years after she joined the force as a new recruit, based at Broadbury Road Police Station in Knowle West.

The first woman in the role, Crew has said it will be the “greatest honour of her life” to serve the diverse communities of Bristol and beyond.

Crew was appointed temporary chief constable of Avon & Somerset Police in July after Andy Marsh stepped down and went on to be named as the preferred candidate of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Shelford following a “rigorous selection process”. She was confirmed in post at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel on Thursday.

“I don’t underestimate the privilege and responsibility this role carries with it and I’m wholly committed to delivering the outstanding policing our communities want and deserve,” said Crew.

“Policing is at a watershed moment; there’s nothing more precious than the founding principle of policing by consent, and we must work tirelessly to earn and keep the public’s trust.

“As a society, we’re facing growing levels of inequality and a criminal justice process under pressure. These times call for policing to stand strong in its mission and stand firm to protect what we prize in our way of life.

“At its heart, the philosophy of policing is a bond of trust between citizens in policing and citizens in communities. Protecting and strengthening this bond of trust is my over-riding priority and I believe greater openness and accountability, and a renewed focus on culture and ethics, will be pivotal in achieving this.”

She added: “I want courage and empathy to be at the heart of everything we do – in every interaction with a vulnerable person; at the core of every investigation and in our relentless pursuit of justice.

“Courage is at its most powerful when combined with empathy and true empathy comes from seeing and feeling the lived experiences of others. We need to show humility and a commitment to listen to all of our communities.”

A graduate of Oxford University with a degree in classics, Crew has worked in several roles since joining the force, including head of intelligence, lead officer for Bristol CID and commander of South Gloucestershire policing area, before taking on the role of deputy chief constable in 2017.

As part of her national portfolio, Sarah has overseen the introduction of Project Bluestone in Avon and Somerset Police – a pioneering evidence-based approach to transform the way police respond and investigate rape and serious sexual offences.

It’s been developed in partnership with academics and in consultation with partners across the criminal justice system, as well as victim services, and is set to inform a national change in the policing approach.

Speaking about the project, Crew said: “At its core, Project Bluestone is about shifting the focus onto offenders, while at the same time improving our response to victims.

“It’s vital we relentlessly target, investigate and pursue those who commit the most crime, present the biggest risks and are the most corrosive influences on our communities.”

PCC Mark Shelford has welcomed the appointment of the new chief constable – photo courtesy of Mark Shelford

Conservative PCC Mark Shelford welcomed the new appointment, saying: “In a world where crime is changing rapidly, police need to adapt to keep up and I know Sarah enthusiastically supports innovation and improving technology to ensure Avon and Somerset is an efficient and effective police service.

“Sarah has a proven track record of strong and successful leadership and through her NPCC role she is undertaking important work with criminal justice and partner agencies to improve conviction rates for these types of offences and give victims the support they deserve.”

Main photo courtesy of Avon & Somerset Police

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