A SENIOR officer says she feels humbled as she is set to become the first woman to lead the police force in the county’s history.

Jo Shiner has been chosen as the preferred candidate to succeed Giles York at Sussex Police headquarters in Lewes.

She has already served as the Deputy Chief Constable for the past 18 months, and has gone through the interview process to land the top job.

Sussex’s Police and Crime Panel will need to approve the appointment when it meets later this month.

The Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said Ms Shiner has a “wealth of experience” and said the Deputy Chief Constable is committed to tough enforcement and more officers on the beat.

She has led the creation of the tactical enforcement units, and joined a dawn police raid in January this year. She also has a background in leading firearms teams, child and adult protection units, and being a critical incident commander.

Ms Shiner started her career in Norfolk in 1993, rising to the rank of Chief Superintendent, before moving to Kent as Assistant Chief Constable in 2014. Then she joined Sussex Police in 2018.

The Argus:

Read more on this story: Jo Shiner joins Sussex Police as Deputy Chief Constable

She said: “I feel very humbled and privileged to be given the opportunity to be the preferred candidate for the Chief Constable of Sussex.

“This is a fantastic force and, subject to confirmation by the Police and Crime Panel, I am committed to ensuring that we continue to provide the very best possible service to the public, through protecting our communities and making Sussex a hostile environment to criminals.

“I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Police & Crime Commissioner, colleagues and partners to provide the best policing to the community.”

Katy Bourne said: “Jo Shiner has a wealth of operational policing experience at all levels and has already demonstrated a passion for Sussex, its people and police force, in her role as Deputy Chief Constable over the last 18 months.

“Throughout this time she has really impressed me with her commitment to making our county an even safer place in which to live and work.

The Argus:

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“She believes in achieving this through proactive policing, tougher enforcement, successful community engagement and a greater policing presence in our towns and villages.

“These are all the things the public have told me they want.

“She has already demonstrated strong leadership within the force and a deep understanding of the complexities facing our communities, with a passion to protect the most vulnerable.

“I am confident that, going forwards, Jo will be an inspirational, hard-working and hands-on Chief Constable for Sussex Police.”