New Chief of Police to Arrive Shortly
20 November 2009
The St Helena Government has selected Peter Coll, out of 10 applicants, to be the new Chief of Police for St Helena.
Peter will replace Royce Hipgrave who is due to leave the Island later this year on completion of contract.
Peter is keen to start his job and said “It is a real privilege to take up the post of Chief of Police for St Helena. The job is a fantastic opportunity and I am thrilled to be taking up the position. It is an almost perfect skills match to my experience and I feel that I can bring something of my recent experience to the role.”
Peter will be employed on a two year SHG contract and the post is to be funded by the Department For International Development. As Chief of Police he will have overall responsibility for the police service, HM Prison, fire and sea rescue, vehicle inspections, vehicle and driver licensing, disaster management and immigration. He will be designated Fire Chief, the Superintendent of Gaols, Registrar of Motor Vehicles and Chief Immigration Officer.
Peter started his career with the Metropolitan Police in 1980 and for the last 10 years he has been working as Chief Superintendent with the Sussex Police in England. In this role, he was head of the Criminal Justice Department and later Head of the Community and Justice Department, a position he continues to hold where he has overall responsibility for neighbourhood policing. This includes dealing with victims, witnesses, custody handling and preparing for court cases as well as dealing with youth issues.
Peter sits on a number of boards related to his work. He is Governor of the Sussex NHS Partnership Trust which leads on mental health issues for the Sussex Police, and he also is a member of the Sussex Criminal Justice Board where he has specific responsibility for the protection of victims and witnesses.
Prior to this, he worked as a Superintendent where, in addition to day-to-day policing, he tackled a wide range of issues from violent crime to problems with drugs and young people.
Peter has also worked as head of training for the Sussex Police and as Superintendent Crime and Operations for Brighton and Hove in the UK. In addition he has worked as a Detective Chief Inspector Crime Manager, Inspector, Sergeant and Police Constable.
Peter has trained extensively in his field and has experience of dealing with critical incidents, firearms, disaster management and carrying out detective work.
The new Chief of Police is due to arrive at the end of November and said “I am looking forward to listening to Saints and hearing what you want from your police and doing what we can to deliver that for you. The friendliness and sociability of Saints is apparent from all I have met and spoken to, so my wife and I are also very much looking forward to meeting and making new friends. Being out in St Helena for this Christmas should provide us with the opportunity to meet people soon after we arrive.”
Peter will be accompanied by his wife Julie who has given up her job as an airline hostess in order to be with her husband.
Public Relations/Information Office, Office of the Chief Secretary, 20 November 2009