Chief Constable Gavin Stephens has announced he will be leaving Surrey Police to take up a national policing position.

Gavin has been elected as the Chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) following an official process which concluded last week. He will remain as Surrey Police Chief Constable until Spring 2023 when he will leave to take up his new post.

The NPCC brings forces across the UK together to coordinate, reform, and improve policing. Gavin will take on the role from current chair Martin Hewitt QPM.

Gavin joined Surrey Police in 1996 and since that time has served at every rank and across a wide range of areas including Serious and Organised Crime, Professional Standards, and Neighbourhood Policing. He became Chief Constable in April 2019.

He led the force through some of its most significant challenges in recent years including the Coronavirus pandemic.

Nationally, Gavin has played a major role in developing neighbourhood policing, using his knowledge and experience from Surrey to inform the approach, resulting in outstanding gradings for preventing crime and anti-social behaviour, and the receipt of national awards for problem solving.

Chief Constable Gavin Stephens said: “It has been an incredible privilege to serve the communities of Surrey for most of my policing career. It is a fantastic county with passionate and supportive communities who I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside at every stage.

“I will be sad to leave the Force and all our outstanding officers and staff and volunteers, but I am honoured to have been selected for this position.

“Policing is responding to some of the biggest challenges it has faced in years and I will use the passion and motivation I have for policing in order to reduce crime, get justice for victims and earn the trust necessary to support policing by consent.

“Throughout my time at Surrey Police I have been committed to keeping the force focused on what matters most to our communities. I will continue to keep the public at the heart of everything I do as I work with colleagues to address some of these pressing challenges.

“The public’s needs and expectations of policing continue to change, and it’s critical we continue to adapt to keep people safe and feeling safe. I look forward to building on the fantastic work already carried out by colleagues in the years to come.”

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