Colin Sutton, the new police and crime commissioner (PCC) for Norfolk, has said he will focus on rural crime and ensure policing resources are more evenly distributed across the county following his election victory.
Rural communities to be a priority
Sutton, who stood for Reform UK and received 32,647 votes, said agricultural areas and smaller settlements had been left without proper attention and will feature prominently in his plans. He argued that policing in Norwich and larger market towns often absorbs the majority of resources and pledged to correct that balance.
"Rural crime is a concern. I think farmers and agricultural communities have had it really rough in recent years,"
He cited problems such as the theft of farming equipment and incidents of hare coursing on private land as examples of offences he is determined to address.
Experience and immediate priorities
Sutton is a former Metropolitan Police detective with a long investigative career. During his time at the Met, he led high-profile inquiries including the investigation that led to the conviction of Levi Bellfield and the Delroy Grant probe. He retired from the police in 2011 and has served as Reform’s national policing and crime adviser.
While emphasising his operational experience, Sutton acknowledged the need to learn the particulars of Norfolk Constabulary's structure and local working practices. He said he cannot simply “throw money at every problem” but suggested there are alternative ways of tackling issues that do not rely solely on additional funding.
What this means for Norfolk
- Rural policing and support for farming communities will be highlighted in the PCC’s agenda.
- Resources may be shifted from city-centre deployment to increase visible policing in villages and market towns.
- Strategic changes could include different allocation of officers, investment in rural crime units or partnerships with local communities.
The PCC takes over from Sarah Taylor and will be responsible for setting Norfolk’s policing priorities, overseeing the budget and holding the chief constable to account. The role is remunerated at around £76,000.
| Detail | Figure / Note |
|---|---|
| Votes received | 32,647 |
| Position | Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner |
| Salary (approx.) | £76,000 |
Sutton lives near Diss and succeeds Sarah Taylor as the county’s PCC. How quickly and in what form his promised rebalancing of police resources is implemented will depend on discussions with Norfolk Constabulary and the strategic policing plan he sets out for the coming months.
Local residents and community groups concerned about rural crime will be watching early decisions closely to see whether the new commissioner’s pledges produce tangible changes in patrol patterns, investigations and support for farmers and small communities.
