Deputy Police Chief appointed from UK after no local interest

Thursday 25 August 2022

A new Deputy Chief of Police has been appointed from the UK after no local officers went for the job.

Scott Hall, who was Assistant Chief Constable of Northumbria Police until his retirement in April last year, will be second-in-command for three years, during which time Chief Officer Robin Smith has committed to identify and develop potential local candidates for the role after that.

The role was advertised in police-related media and on gov.je, with no interest from any local candidate.

There were, however, a number of applicants from the UK and overseas.

A panel chaired by Helen Ruelle, a member of the Jersey Appointments Commission, considered a shortlist of five candidates, with final interviews taking place last month. The panel was unanimous in its recommendation to appoint Mr Hall, with the decision ultimately being one for the Home Affairs Minister. 

Pictured: Police Chief Robin Smith has committed to find a local replacement for Mr Hall when he leaves Police Headquarters in three years' time. 

A reported presented to the States this week by the minister, Deputy Helen Miles, states: “Mr Hall has over 30 years’ of policing experience within the UK, having risen through the ranks in the Northumbria Police. He has spent the last ten years in strategic roles operating at senior management and executive team level. 

“He worked within the Executive Team, as Assistant Chief Constable, for the final 18 months of his service, up to the point of his retirement in April 2021. 

“Responsibilities were wide ranging, including being the force strategic lead for Public Order and Firearms Disciplines and performing the role of Chair of the Local Resilience Forum.

“He was a qualified Strategic Firearms Commander and Gold Public Order Public Safety Commander, overseeing the policing response in relation to numerous firearm operations, including many large-scale public events and protests, most recently, in relation to the Black Lives Matter protests. 

“Mr Hall has also undertaken the role of Gold Commander for the police operations surrounding large scale public events, such as the Sunderland Air Show, involving a large scale multi-agency response.”

Nowhere to hide ????️‍♀️????‍⚖️

More than 3️⃣6️⃣0️⃣ of our most wanted fugitives have been arrested – as we took advantage of lockdown to track them down.

Read more about the arrests, and praise from ACC Scott Hall, here ???? https://t.co/ht1CeryWZQ pic.twitter.com/9udkxm4AeD

— Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) June 8, 2020

Pictured: A tweet highlighting the efforts of Mr Hall - has more than three decades' policing experience in the UK, having risen through the ranks in the Northumbria Police - and his team during lockdown.

In 2020, previous Home Affairs Minister Len Norman and Chief Officer Smith agreed to postpone the appointment of a Deputy Chief Officer and appoint two Designated for one year on a rotating six-month basis.

The first was Superintendent James Wileman, a Jersey-born officer who left the force at the end of his six-month term.

The second was Superintendent Alison Fossey, who was promoted and appointed in January 2021. 

Six months later, Supt Fossey was promoted to Head of Crime and CID, while Detective Superintendent Stewart Gull was promoted to Acting Deputy Chief Officer. 

The recruitment process for a full-time Deputy began thereafter.

The reason for the 2020 move to Designated Deputies was for the force to better manage its finances in light of the pandemic.

A report issued to the States Assembly in July 2020 explaining the rationale added: “The change will also allow more officers to take on broader developmental opportunities, different portfolios and assist in succession planning for the future. 

“This will support development of a wider group of people within the force. It will benefit those individuals as well as the force as a whole.”