Senior Leaders

Jo joined Sussex Police in 2018 as Deputy Chief Constable and became the force’s ninth Chief Constable in July 2020. She is the first female Chief Constable in the history of Sussex Police.

Jo’s career in the police spans nearly 28 years, during which time she has undertaken a wide variety of roles.  These have predominantly been operational, both in uniform and within Child and Adult Protection Units, CID and as Firearms, Public Order and Critical Incident Commander.

Jo started her policing career in Norfolk in 1993, serving up to the rank of Chief Superintendent. She then transferred on promotion to Kent as Assistant Chief Constable in 2014. Throughout her career she has been committed to taking a preventative and proactive approach to policing – working closely with partners. Her strong belief is that there are very few circumstances where policing alone is the answer.

As Deputy Chief Constable in Sussex, Jo was responsible for the effective and efficient running of Sussex Police, and delivering the services that communities expect and deserve. She has been pivotal in ensuring that additional investment into the force has bolstered operational policing and delivered visible results. This includes new proactive Tactical Enforcement Units, an increased pan-Sussex Rural Crime Team and Local Resolution Teams, which protect and support victims of domestic abuse. Jo has also overseen investment in additional PCSOs, Roads Policing officers and has driven the recruitment of more police officers, as well as investment in the Force Contact Command and Control Department. 

On becoming Chief Constable of Sussex, Jo set out three clear priorities:

• To protect communities
• Catch criminals
• Deliver an outstanding service to victims and witnesses

This is underpinned by a professional, healthy, diverse and inclusive workforce that take pride, and are valued, for the work they do.

Jo is the national NPCC lead for Children and Young People and sits as a Trustee for the charity Embrace (Child Victims of Crime).  She is a keen advocate for fitness, regularly signing up for events including marathons and long bike rides to fund raise for various charities, including The Beachy Head Chaplains who save hundreds of lives every year. She also volunteers at ground level for a couple of local charities.

Jo is married to Andrew and is also the proud owner of a very exuberant, and much loved rescued Mountain dog, whom she adores.

Julia joined Sussex Police in 2019 as ACC for Local Policing, becoming Temporary Deputy Chief Constable in June 2020 and Deputy Chief Constable in August 2020.

Before joining Sussex Police, Julia spent over 26 years in Kent Police, which provided a wealth of experience across both crime and uniform roles in Local Policing, Criminal Justice and Public Protection. She served as Divisional Commander for West Division, as well as a Strategic Firearms and Gold Public Order Commander.

Now residing in Kent, Julia grew up in Sussex and her family still lives in the county. She enjoys spending time visiting the coast and villages, along with the South Downs.

Julia enjoys running and belongs to a local running club. She also enjoys travel, and socialising with her husband, friends and family.

Jayne Dando joined Sussex Police in 1991 and has spent all her career working in the county. She has worked across a number of departments, mainly within local policing, criminal justice and latterly as the lead for Public Protection.

She is the race Equality Champion for the force and is passionate about working towards ensuring Sussex police represents our diverse communities.

She resides in the county and relishes her days off enjoying the amazing countryside Sussex has to offer.

Dave joined Sussex Police in 1997 having spent 10 years working in the retail and travel industries and in the military. He started his police career in Brighton, then as a Sergeant in West Sussex, with the National Crime Squad (now NCA) and divisional CID as a Detective Inspector. He then spent the next few years as a DCI on division and Criminal Justice then as District Commander in Brighton.

He led local and national inspections with the HMIC and was a divisional Superintendent for Crime and Operations before transferring on promotion to Chief Superintendent in Surrey Police, leading Response Command, Specialist Crime Command across Surrey and Sussex, Public Protection and East Surrey Division.

Dave was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable for Surrey and Sussex Operations, Gatwick Airport and Force Contact, Command and Control Department in May 2019. He holds a number of regional portfolios, is a Public Order Gold Commander, Strategic Firearms Commander, national assessor, holds a Masters’ Degree and is a qualified executive coach. He is passionate about policing, catching and holding to account those who do the most harm to our communities and supporting people to be the best they can be.

He likes to try to keep fit, but with a busy job and four children there isn't time for much else.

Clare is currently seconded from Hampshire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Officer (ACO) to lead the South Region Integrated Policing (SERIP) programme.

SERIP is a four force funded programme identifying opportunities where the forces involved (Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and Thames Valley) would be better off working together, introducing new programmes of work together and seeks to ensure the public are protected and staff and officers are better supported.

Clare's single and simple aspiration for SERIP is to make the most of collaboration opportunities where frustrating barriers can be removed and make operational and organisational policing fit for the 21st century.

Clare graduated from the Strategic Command Course in March 2019 having passed Senior PNAC in November 2018. She previously worked for Hampshire Constabulary for 17 years in a variety of roles from research and analysis to Head of Performance. Most recently Clare was the Head of Organisational Learning, identifying opportunities to prevent repeating mistakes and learning from innovative and outstanding work that keeps the public safe and helps the lives of those who work with us.

Prior to working for Hampshire, Clare worked as an employment and education policy researcher/advisor in the House of Commons, the Employment Department and the University of Sussex.

Peter has over 30 years’ experience in local government finance and senior management, having held Chief Finance Officer, Resources Director and Head of Paid Service roles.

His portfolio, across both Surrey and Sussex forces, includes Finance, Procurement, Fleet, Estates and Facilities.

A CIPFA qualified Accountant, he has previously been s151 Officer at three local authorities - Malvern Hills, Gloucester City and Bristol City Councils. During his career he has become renowned for both service transformation, and for implementing alternative service delivery models, including innovative partnerships with the private sector.

Peter also holds the role of Senior Responsible Officer for the Policing National Commercial board, which has recently launched BlueLight Commercial Ltd – a wholly-owned Police company, providing commercial and procurement expertise to all forces, to deliver cashable savings and to improve value for money for policing.  He is also a champion for the ‘Achieving Finance Excellence in Policing’ programme, having sat on the initial steering group and is co-chair of the programme’s People development sub group.

Outside of work, Peter is married with three children, all of whom play in bands. With his eldest son based in London, his daughter in Bristol and his youngest son at home, he spends much of his spare time at weekends as an unpaid roadie! He is also a member of his local parish council and a qualified motorcycle instructor, teaching learners on a voluntary basis at a local scheme.

Chief Supt Nick May joined Brighton and Hove as Divisional Commander in 2019.

He began his career in policing 28 years ago in East Sussex and has worked across East and West Sussex mainly in detective roles. In 2011 he became a Senior Investigating Officer for homicides in the Surrey Police and Sussex Police Major Crime Team before becoming the Head of Major crime for the two counties in 2013.

Since then he has worked in local policing in East Sussex and spent 18 months as Temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing in Sussex.

Rachel has 27 years of experience in policing, she has worked in both crime and uniform roles in Local Policing, Criminal Justice and Corporate Development.

Previously she has been the force lead for integrated Offender management, she is a tactical firearms Commander and a passionate Youth Ambassador. Rachel is a mother to three children and in her spare time enjoys spending time with her family.

Mike joined Sussex Police in 1991 and was posted to Hastings where he spent the first ten years of his service. In 1996 he became a Detective in the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) before later being a founder Detective Constable of Sussex Police’s Major Crime Branch. Upon promotion as Sergeant he was posted back to Hastings where he stayed as a Detective Sergeant in CID and then Detective Inspector, leading the Intelligence Unit for East Sussex Division. 

Following a further spell in the Major Crime Branch, Mike was promoted to Chief Inspector and posted to East Sussex as the Detective Chief Inspector. 

Mike has enjoyed a number of years working in the collaborated Specialist Crime Command as a Senior Investigating Officer in the Major Crime Team, leading a number of murder and other major crime investigations. 

In early 2019 Mike returned to Local Policing at Brighton & Hove Division where he is very proud to be the Detective Superintendent. He has a passion for the investigation of crime and getting justice for victims and their families.

Mike lives in East Sussex with his wife and two daughters. His hobbies including walking the family dog – on behalf of his daughters! And many sports plus socialising with friends and family.

Catherine Joined Sussex Police in 1997 and was posted to Hove. She has held several roles, including response (all ranks), Neighbourhood Policing Team, Custody, Special Branch, Learning & Professional Development, and Criminal Investigations Department as Detective Inspector.

Having worked on all Divisions across East and West Sussex, Catherine is back to where her career started 24 years ago at Brighton & Hove Division.  

When not at work, Catherine enjoys the countryside, cycling and continues to try to master the art of playing golf.

“24 years has genuinely passed by quickly. Looking back over that time, I can still say that I have the same values within me. That is to serve the public and to make a difference to people’s lives”

Tanya is the Divisional Commander for East Sussex, being responsible and accountable for policing in this area. As the portfolio lead for Neighbourhood Policing for Sussex Police, she is passionate about preventing crime, working in collaboration with partners, and tackling crimes that cause the highest harm in East Sussex.

Tanya joined Sussex Police in 1997, and has worked across a number of departments and disciplines including response, CID, proactive investigations, intelligence and a collaborated change programme. In recent years she has been a senior investigating officer, was the head of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, and is an accredited strategic firearms commander. She is finishing a masters in Applied Criminology and Police leadership which has focused her attention to ensuring that what we do is evidence based.

Biography to follow.

After joining Sussex Police in 1999, Sarah worked as a PC in Hastings on Response, where she spent her first three years. She then moved to Brighton & Hove Division and was promoted to Sergeant in 2004 and then Inspector in 2007. Although Sarah spent time in other uniformed roles, her passion was for Response policing and she remained as a Critical Incident Inspector in Brighton until moving back to East Sussex Division in 2012.

Sarah gained experience in a detective role, which gave an insight into a different area of policing before returning to be a Critical Incident Inspector in East Sussex. In February 2018 she was successful in being promoted to Chief Inspector and later that year took up her current role as District Commander for Hastings and Rother, where her career had started 20 years previously.

Alongside her current role, Sarah is an accredited Tactical Firearms Commander having spent time as the Force Incident Manager and running spontaneous firearms incidents, to now commanding planned firearms incidents across the force area.

After joining Sussex Police in 1993, Alasdair spent the first ten years of his service at Brighton & Hove Division and was promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2004 and then Detective Inspector in 2009. The vast majority of Alasdair’s service has been as a detective in departments ranging from reactive CID to divisional and force level operational units.  

In 2015 Alasdair was promoted to DCI on the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, where he managed investigations teams drawn from across the four South East police forces with the aim of targeting criminals responsible for causing significant harm to communities across the home counties. In 2017 Alasdair returned to Sussex where he undertook the role of crime manager for East Sussex CID.  His new role, which he commenced in 2020, is a hybrid of his previous detective function in addition to being Wealden’s District Commander.

Chief Supt Hodges has returned to the force as Divisional Commander for West Sussex after spending 12 months on a secondment with the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) in London where he was the Head of the Operations Unit with responsibility for a range of issues including the resourcing of national mutual aid for large scale events and operations.

He began his career in policing 26 years ago as a response PC based in Bognor Regis, before going on to work through the ranks in a variety of roles within West Sussex, Brighton & Hove and Operations Command.

Among his proudest moments are working on the 2012 Olympics and command roles for both the Labour Party Conference and the Lewes Bonfire Celebrations.

“Throughout my service there have been lots of changes in society and internally within policing. However, what has remained consistent is our core mission to protect our communities, catch criminals and deliver an outstanding service to victims, witnesses and the wider public.”

Chief Superintendent Hodges is born and bred in West Sussex where he still lives with his family. In his spare time he enjoys walking his dog and, when time allows, getting out on his bike.

Sarah has been a Sussex Police officer for 13 years. During this time she has worked in a variety of roles across West Sussex including Response, Prevention, Critical Incident Inspector and a number of strategic and performance positions.

Sarah is a busy working Mum to two small children and when she’s not juggling work and children or walking her excitable Weimaraner dog, she enjoys hiding at the gym and socialising with family and friends.

Jon joined Sussex Police 25 years ago and was posted to Haywards Heath. He has worked in Response, Neighbourhood Policing, Roads Policing, Investigation and Custody as a PC, Sergeant and Inspector.

Jon returned to West Sussex as Operations Chief Inspector and is now the District Commander for Chichester and Arun.

"I am honoured to be able to work in this area as the District Commander, and am passionate about working with others to keep our community safe. I find the role immensely rewarding, and am proud to work with fantastic colleagues, both inside and outside of Sussex Police."

Shane Joined Sussex Police in 2005 and worked in our Response teams for 9 years before moving to Headquarters in Lewes where he created our combined risk assessment process, allowing us to share more information with our partners in order to better safeguard our most vulnerable people.

He has worked across other areas of Sussex, before becoming Head of Digital Transformation for both Surrey Police and Sussex Police, responsible for creating the forces’ new collaborative Mobile Policing initiative.

Alongside his current role, Shane is also an accredited Tactical Firearms Commander and the force lead for Engaging Communities.