Suffolk Constabulary
Encyclopedia
Suffolk Constabulary is the territorial police force
responsible for policing Suffolk
in East Anglia
, England
.
Suffolk Constabulary is responsible for policing an area of 939510 acres (3,802 km²), with a population of
678,074 and 288,473 households. The area covered is principally rural and coastal and the
force has two territorial areas: Eastern and Western. The Eastern Area HQ is at
Halesworth
, the Western Area HQ at Bury St Edmunds. Each area is divided into sectors, with boundaries matching those of local district or borough councils. There are a total of 14 sectors across the county, each commanded by an inspector or chief inspector. As of 2 July 2005, Suffolk Constabulary had 1,305 police officers and 841 police staff, supplemented by 264 special constables, 15 traffic wardens and 34 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
Suffolk Police Authority
has 9 councillors, 3 justices of the peace, and 5 independent members. The Chief Constable is Simon Ash, formerly Deputy Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Police.
borough police merged.
In 2006 Suffolk Constabulary merged the role of traffic warden with that of PCSO. Those traffic wardens that did not wish to pursue this role either retired or took employment elsewhere, or within the police service.
Proposals announced by the then Home Secretary
Charles Clarke
on 20 March 2006 would have seen the force merge with neighbouring forces Norfolk Constabulary
and Cambridgeshire Constabulary
to form a strategic police force for East Anglia
. However, the proposals were later abandoned.
The inquiry was the largest mounted by Suffolk Police in their history.
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
responsible for policing Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
in East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Suffolk Constabulary is responsible for policing an area of 939510 acres (3,802 km²), with a population of
678,074 and 288,473 households. The area covered is principally rural and coastal and the
force has two territorial areas: Eastern and Western. The Eastern Area HQ is at
Halesworth
Halesworth
Halesworth is a small market town in the northeastern corner of Suffolk, England. It is located south west of Lowestoft, and straddles the River Blyth, 9 miles upstream from Southwold. The town is served by Halesworth railway station on the Ipswich-Lowestoft East Suffolk Line...
, the Western Area HQ at Bury St Edmunds. Each area is divided into sectors, with boundaries matching those of local district or borough councils. There are a total of 14 sectors across the county, each commanded by an inspector or chief inspector. As of 2 July 2005, Suffolk Constabulary had 1,305 police officers and 841 police staff, supplemented by 264 special constables, 15 traffic wardens and 34 Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
Suffolk Police Authority
Police authority
A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
has 9 councillors, 3 justices of the peace, and 5 independent members. The Chief Constable is Simon Ash, formerly Deputy Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Police.
History
The force formed by the merger of West Suffolk Constabulary and East Suffolk Constabulary. Those forces had previously been merged in 1869 and the split again in 1899. The most recent merger took place in 1967, which also saw the IpswichIpswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
borough police merged.
In 2006 Suffolk Constabulary merged the role of traffic warden with that of PCSO. Those traffic wardens that did not wish to pursue this role either retired or took employment elsewhere, or within the police service.
Proposals announced by the then Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
Charles Clarke
Charles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
on 20 March 2006 would have seen the force merge with neighbouring forces Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:...
and Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire in the United Kingdom. In addition to the non-metropolitan county, the Police area includes the city of Peterborough, which became a unitary authority area in...
to form a strategic police force for East Anglia
East Anglia
East Anglia is a traditional name for a region of eastern England, named after an ancient Anglo-Saxon kingdom, the Kingdom of the East Angles. The Angles took their name from their homeland Angeln, in northern Germany. East Anglia initially consisted of Norfolk and Suffolk, but upon the marriage of...
. However, the proposals were later abandoned.
Notable investigations
Suffolk Constabulary gained widespread attention in December 2006, when they began to investigate the murder of five women working as prostitutes in the Ipswich area. The murders generated media interest both nationally and internationally.The inquiry was the largest mounted by Suffolk Police in their history.