Retired Sussex top cop handed new police job

3:10pm Thursday 29th July 2010

By Ben Parsons, Crime Reporter

A celebrity policeman is topping up his pension with a £ 600aweek civilian role. Jeremy Paine, who hit TV screens in 1999 as Crimewatch s resident police officer, has taken on a staffpost with Sussex Police, bridging the gap between officers and council workers.

The strategic development manager role is designed to cut costs by making sure work on areas like drugs, alcohol and domestic violence is not duplicated.

It will earn him up to more than £ 23,000 for working three days a week until the end of March.

As an ex-assistant chief constable of Sussex Police, he is already entitled to a pension worth tens of thousands of pounds a year from the force.

Mr Paine, who started work on July 14, is now employed by Sussex Police s Brighton and Hove division but seconded to Brighton and Hove City Council.

Before becoming assistant chief constable, he oversaw police operations for two Labour party conferences and was noted for achieving a decline in house burglaries and violent assaults as divisional commander for Brighton and Hove.

The job advert read: "The post holder will ensure the developments across all agencies are adequately designed, commissioned, monitored and controlled so as to deliver improved outcomes for Brighton and Hove and its people.

"A key task will be to coordinate the police input into the total place developments within Brighton and Hove."

"Total place" is a Government moneysaving idea for organisations to work together to solve problems in one area, instead of each trying to tackle the same issue at the same time.

Superintendent Steve Whitton, of Sussex Police, said: "The public sector is facing a huge challenge in continuing to provide the best possible service against a background of cuts in public spending.

"It is essential we take every opportunity to develop joint working with our partners.

"This will enhance joint working in a number of areas including drugs, alcohol and domestic violence, recognising these are significant issues for the city.

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "We're delighted to be working with Mr Paine, who has had a distinguished career in the police force.

"He will contribute significantly to the council s efforts to work closer with the police to provide joint services that will produce better outcomes for the city."