Lead the Future of Policing in Suffolk At Suffolk Constabulary, we are proud to serve our communities and committed to our mission of ‘Keeping Suffolk Safe’. We are seeking exceptional leaders from within Suffolk Constabulary and across UK policing, including substantive Chief Inspectors seeking promotion and substantive Superintendents seeking a level transfer. We want this process to provide an equal opportunity for talented internal and external candidates to demonstrate what they can bring to senior leadership in Suffolk. We welcome applications from leaders who share our commitment to serving communities, supporting colleagues and making Suffolk a safer place to live, work, travel and invest. We are looking for people who embody our values of being courageous, professional, community-focused and compassionate, and who can turn those values into visible leadership, strong performance and excellent public service. As a Superintendent, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of policing across Suffolk. Our emerging performance framework asks six simple but stretching questions: are we preventing crime and protecting those most at risk; responding effectively when the public needs us; investigating crime well and providing a good service to victims; bringing offenders to justice; delivering effective neighbourhood policing and improving public confidence; and maintaining the organisational health, capability and resilience needed to deliver effective policing. As a senior leader, you will help turn those questions into better outcomes for our communities and our workforce.
The recruitment criteria for all posts are subject to workplace adjustments in line with the Constabularies’ policies and duties under the Equality Act 2010.
Consideration will be given to whether the post can be delivered on either a part time or job share basis, in line with the organisational requirements of this role.
Recruitment and Selection Policy
Internal applicants who are at risk of redundancy or in need of redeployment and pass the selection process, will be offered the role over the remaining internal and external applicants.
What We’re Looking For:
Successful candidates will join a force committed to ‘Keeping Suffolk Safe’, with the opportunity to lead across the full breadth of our policing mission: prevention and protection; contact and response; investigations and victim service; bringing offenders to justice; neighbourhood policing and public confidence; and organisational health and capability. We are looking for leaders who are curious about performance, ambitious for improvement and able to create the conditions in which our people can deliver their best work.
Appointments are to the rank of Superintendent rather than to a specific post, with substantive roles allocated following the process. We expect opportunities across both detective and uniformed portfolios. In Suffolk, however, Superintendent leadership is deliberately broad: colleagues should expect to serve beyond the boundaries of a substantive posting, contribute to force-wide portfolios and undertake relevant command and rota responsibilities. Our detective and uniformed leaders work as one senior operational cadre, and it is not unusual for detective Superintendents to develop and maintain wider command capabilities, including Strategic Firearms Commander or public order/public safety command, where appropriate.
What you can expect
Suffolk offers a distinctive environment in which to develop and thrive as a Superintendent. You will have the visibility and influence to make a real difference across the organisation, alongside the operational complexity, strategic responsibility and partnership opportunities needed to broaden your leadership experience.
Why Suffolk?
Suffolk offers a distinctive policing environment. From Ipswich and growing towns to significant rural communities, a long coastline, major transport routes and critical national infrastructure projects, the county brings varied demand and genuine opportunities for senior operational and strategic leadership.
It is also a county in which to build a life as well as a career, with coast, countryside, market towns and historic communities alongside connections across the East of England and to London.
At Suffolk Constabulary, our people make the difference. We are proud of the commitment and professionalism of our teams and of the relationships we have built with the communities and partners we serve. Whether you already lead within Suffolk or would bring experience from elsewhere in policing, we want you to see this as an opportunity to contribute, grow and help shape what comes next.
Key Dates*
Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage in date order:
Key Dates:
| Action | Dates |
| Applications Open | Mon 26th Oct 2026 |
| Briefing Session (online event) | Tues 10th Nov 2026 |
| Applications Close – date for completed forms and PDRs to be received by the recruitment team | Thursday 19th Nov at 12noon |
| Application shortlisting | From Fri 20th Nov 2026 |
| Stakeholder Panels | Mon 30th Nov & Wed 2nd Dec |
| Assessment / Board Interview: A/DCC Alice Scott, T/ACC Paul Wells, Helen Molloy, Director of People | WC Monday 7th December |
*Although unlikely, dates may be subject to change
Eligibility:
How to apply:
To request an application pack please contact the recruitment team by email at SNROfficerPromotions@suffolk.police.uk
Fully completed forms (including your PDRs) should be returned to the above address by the closing time of 12noon on Friday 13th November. Any forms received after this time will not be progressed unless there are exceptional circumstances. Any exceptional circumstances must be submitted in an email at the time of submitting your form and any decision in relation to you entering the process will be made by a senior ranking officer.
The Recruitment Team will email an acknowledgement of your application form within 3 working days of this closing date.
Briefing Session attendance:
To book your place at the online briefing session and receive joining instructions, please inform the recruitment team of your interest when requesting your application pack.
We are looking for people who share our values of caring, inclusive, courageous and learning.
Click the links to find out more about our inclusive culture in Norfolk and Suffolk.
To enable us to deliver outstanding policing for everyone, we need people from all backgrounds with a range of professional and life experiences so that we are truly representative of our communities.
Why work for Norfolk and Suffolk Police?
Norfolk and Suffolk Police have gained a reputation as pioneering and innovative forces, responsible for policing a large diverse, multi-cultural population.
If you are looking for a fresh challenge which offers a genuine opportunity to make a real difference to people’s lives, variety and the chance to broaden your experience, then Norfolk or Suffolk is the force for you.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
Norfolk and Suffolk Police are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.
Our constabularies are committed to providing support for our under-represented and marginalised communities, including but not limited to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, disabilities, neurodiversity, gender and LGBT+ communities.
All applications will be treated on merit, based on the evidence provided in your application and suitability for the role you have applied for.
Police Barred and Advisory lists
Individuals placed on the Police Barred and Advisory lists will not be considered for employment by the police for a minimum of 5 years from the date of listing in the case of gross misconduct, or 3 years from the date of listing in the case of poor performance.
Vetting and safeguarding
Norfolk and Suffolk constabularies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. All employees and volunteers therefore will be subject to background checks including vetting and references.
Eligibility Criteria
All Applicants must reside in the UK and have continuous residency for the past three years, rising to five years for certain roles. (The only exceptions are being stationed abroad through the Armed Forces or having taken extended holiday / travelled for a period of less than 12 months, where your UK residency has been maintained) Please refer to the job description for the residency requirements for this role.
This post is open to
We are committed to being a Disability Confident Leader. If you require any adjustments to support you during the application or selection process, please get in touch. You can contact us by email or telephone to discuss your needs in confidence, and we will be happy to help.
Norfolk Constabulary Recruitment and Selection Code of Practice
Suffolk Constabulary Recruitment and Selection Code of Practice
Professions: Law enforcement