View the Constabulary's structure by clicking on the following link: Force Structure - this opens in a new window 48kb- (pdf)

Simon Ash - Chief Constable
Simon Ash is Suffolk Constabulary's Chief Constable. He was born in Kent and, after studying at Birmingham University, joined Kent County Constabulary in 1982.

There, he held various positions through the ranks until 1993 when he was promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector (Operations) in Folkestone. Two years later he was promoted to the rank of Superintendent and became Head of Personnel and then spent two years as Area Commander of Maidstone and Malling.

In 2001 Simon joined Hertfordshire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable, Operations, and held that position until 2003 when he was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable. As Deputy Chief Constable he was responsible for Organisational Intelligence, Human Resources and Corporate Communication.

On June 4th, 2007 he joined Suffolk Constabulary as Chief Constable.

He has a BA (Hons) Degree in Geography, MA in Organisational Management and a Diploma in Applied Criminology and Police Studies from Cambridge University.

Simon is married and has two children. His interests include golf and he is a keen football supporter.

Jacqui Cheer - Deputy Chief Constable
Jacqui Cheer is Suffolk Constabulary's Deputy Chief Constable.

Mrs Cheer joined the force in July 2006 and prior to this worked within the Home Office’s Reform Unit.

During her 22 years of service, all within Essex Police, Mrs Cheer gained operational experience of counter-terrorist policing, policing large public events (such as the Southend Air Show) and working with a range of partners to reduce crime, detect more offences and minimise anti-social behaviour.

As Deputy Chief Constable, her portfolio includes Protective Services, Human Resources, Strategic Options, Head of Policing and Professional Standards, Management of Police Information (MOPI), level II tasking and Performance Management.

Mrs Cheer is married and currently lives in North Essex.

Gary Kitching -  Assistant Chief Constable
Born in 1957, Gary spent his formative years in central London before moving with his parents to Surrey. Following three years at university in Wales he returned to London in 1979 to join the Metropolitan Police Service. Starting his career in Brixton, Gary spent the majority of his early service in South London working in places such as Streatham, Tooting, and Battersea. He was posted to a range of operational roles including leading both community and public order teams. He was also part of the development team for London's first computerised crime reporting system.

In 1996 he transferred on promotion to Hertfordshire Constabulary and over a period of ten years has led all of the Force’s operational teams and was also responsible for strategic planning. In addition to his departmental responsibilities, in 2001 he led the Constabulary's reorganisation team and was responsible for introducing the National Intelligence Model in Hertfordshire. As the Area Commander for Eastern Hertfordshire and a keen exponent of community policing, he led one of England’s neighbourhood policing pathfinder sites. Gary was also been employed in the role of Temporary Assistant Chief Constable in Hertfordshire with responsibility for Protective Services.

Gary is a keen on trekking and fell walking. He has travelled extensively around the world and ideal holidays combine exploration with long walks. Fortunately Gary's wife Cath and their labrador share his interests!

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Stewart Gull - Temporary Assistant Chief Constable
Stewart  Gull is Temporary Assistant Chief Constable. He is responsible for level one operations and Citizen Focus.

Stewart has 28 years service having worked in all three Areas of the Force, having served in both uniform and CID in every rank. He was also Head of the Protective Services Department before taking up his current role.

Stewart is married with two children. Stewart is a keen sportsman participating in and watching a variety of sports, but his real passion is for ski-ing.


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Phillip Clayton - Assistant Chief Officer (Business Support)
Phillip Clayton joined the Constabulary as Assistant Chief Officer in May 2005 having worked for the Environment Agency as Regional Finance Manager for Southern Area for the past 4 years.

Mr Clayton has worked in the private and public sectors including 7 years at Director level. His experience covers financial, retail and manufacturing as well as educational, NHS and charity sectors.

Mr Clayton’s role as ACO (Business Support) covers Finance, Facilities Management, Procurement, Knowledge Architecture, regional collaboration, strategic projects and the Police Investigation Centres project (PIC).

He lives with his long-term partner, Karen, and his main interests include fly- fishing, chess, restoring classic cars and table tennis.

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 Chief Superintendent David McDonnell - Western Area Commander
After gaining a BA (Honours) in History and Archaeology at Reading University, David worked as a professional archaeologist and as a manager for Marks and Spencer before beginning his police career with the Sussex police in 1983.

After a wide variety of policing roles, his final posting in Sussex was Commander of the Counter Terrorist Wing at Gatwick airport.

David transferred to Suffolk Constabulary on promotion to Superintendent in 1999 and spent a brief period with the Corporate Development Department before serving as the Operations Manager for the Constabulary's Eastern Area from 1999 to 2002 and Area Commander from 2002 to 2003. Then, in September 2003 David took over as Chief Superintendent Operations.

Before moving to his current role David was also the head of the newly-created Citizen Focus Department  and was the lead for  the Constabulary's Strategic Review and Collaboration programmes.

David is married to Debbie, a teacher, and has a daughter and a son. His interests include local history, wildlife, walking and DIY on his familys Tudor house, which he describes as like painting the Forth Bridge.
For more information about policing in the West, please click on the following link:  Western Area

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Chief Superintendent Mark Cordell - Eastern Area Commander
Chief Superintendent Mark Cordell is Area Commander for Suffolk Constabulary's Eastern Area.

He is in charge of policing in an area which embraces the county's coastal strip, and includes the towns of Lowestoft, Beccles, Halesworth, Woodbridge and Felixstowe

Chief Superintendent Mark Cordell has served 27 years with Suffolk Constabulary, the majority of this time spent in the Western Area. In 2000 he was the Head of the Force Community Safety Unit.

In July 2002 he joined the Western Area Command Team as Crime Manager and following a promotion in May 2003 he became the Operations Manager.  He then went on to become Western Area Commander,  and Head of Policing and Professional Standards before being apppointed as Eastern Area Commander.

Mark lives near Bury St Edmunds with his wife and family.  He enjoys walking his dog Bronte and is a lifelong supporter of Tottenham Hotspur. To find out more about policing in the east of the county, please click on the following link: Eastern Area

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Chief Superintendent Paul Marshall - Citizen Focus
Paul is Chief Superintendent Citizen Focus. He joined the Suffolk Constabulary in 1982 and has served in a variety of roles in both uniform and CID, including Sector Commander at Mildenhall, Staff Officer to the Chief Constable, Western Area Crime Manager and Director of Intelligence.

In January 2006 he was appointed as the Head of the Corporate Development with a variety of responsibilities including corporate communications, business change and development, research and consultation, performance management and audit and inspections.

Before moving to his current role, he was appointed Western Area Commander overseeing the policing of Forest Heath, St. Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk and the District of Babergh.

He is married with two daughters and in his spare time he is involved in community work, DIY and gardening. 

Superintendent David Skevington - Operations Manager, Ipswich
David took up his post as the Superintendent (Operations Manager) for Ipswich in 2009.

He joined Suffolk Police in 1989 as a Police Constable in Haverhill and has since worked in a wide variety of roles across the county. Most of David’s service has been spent within the Criminal Investigations Department.

He was a Detective with the Forces Drugs and Serious Crime Unit before becoming a Detective Inspector in Forest Heath.

He is qualified as a Senior Investigating Officer for major and serious criminal investigations. In 2006 he was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector with the Forces Organised Crime Directorate and was Operations Manager for the West Base Command Unit before taking up his current post.

He is married to Sian and has three boys and enjoys mountain biking (without the mountains!) in Thetford Forest, music and playing or watching as much outdoor sport as possible.


Stuart Sedgwick - Head of Professional Standards
Stuart Sedgwick was appointed Head of Professional Standards Department in January 2009.
He joined the Suffolk Constabulary in 1984 and spent the early part of his career in the West of the County working at Newmarket and Mildenhall.

He has served at every rank in both uniform and CID with recent roles that have included Forest Heath District Commander and Detective Chief Inspector within the Intelligence Directorate.

Stuart has attained an Honours Degree in Policing and Police Studies. He lives near Bury St Edmunds and enjoys coaching a youth football team in his spare time. Unsurprisingly the majority of the team support Arsenal demonstrating his ability to influence others.

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Gerry Leader - Director of Criminal Justice Change
Gerry Leader is Suffolk Constabulary's Director of Criminal Justice Change.

He originally joined the Constabulary in 1969 as a Police Cadet but then left in 1975 to take up a career with the Norfolk and Suffolk Magistrates' Courts Committees.

A decade later, he re-joined Suffolk Constabulary and in 1991 became its Administration of Justice Manager; he then became Director of Administration of Justice as the role expanded.

In 2000, Gerry was appointed Director of Support Services when his department was merged with estates, transport, procurement and central administration and in 2005 he became Director of Criminal Justice Services.

Gerry is currently seconded from his current role until 4th November, 2009 to lead the Constabulary implementation of multiple Criminal Justice Change Initiatives reporting to the Assistant Chief Constable.

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Harry Brightwell - Director Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Harry Brightwell is Suffolk Constabulary's Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

He first worked with Computers as a Computer Operator for a large Insurance Organisation in the days of Data Processing.

He has worked in Computer Departments  in various roles, including  Organisation and Systems Analyst and Principal Business Analyst.

He has been responsible for merging a Computer Department and a Communications Department to  create an Information Technology Department.
He has also been Head of an Information Systems Department.

Harry has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has worked for two other Police Authorities.

Brian Rogers - Financial Services Manager
Brian previously worked for Cleveland Constabulary and he joined Suffolk Constabulary in 1982. He qualified as an Accountant with CIPFA in 1997.

Brian has played a key role in implementing numerous changes to the Finance Department, which now encompasses all Accountancy, Payroll and other functions.

He is keen on sport and is a life long Everton supporter. He has also been an accomplished distance and cross-country runner, and trekked to some of the worlds highest places including Everest base camp and the summit of Kilimanjaro.

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