Essex Police Chief Constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, or BJ, grew up in North London and attended St. Ignatius College in Enfield. He began his policing career with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1990. He served communities in and around Chingford and Walthamstow. BJ brought with him experience not only from his work with HM Customs and Excise, but his skills as a reserve soldier in the Parachute Regiment too.

Over the next 27 years, BJ worked in a variety of policing roles across London. He gained real-life policing experience needed to understand and lead a police service.

After learning the ropes as a response police officer, BJ joined the Metropolitan Police Services’ specialist public order team, the Territorial Support Group (TSG). He became a Sergeant in 1996 and continued his promotion through the ranks. By October 2014, BJ had become Area Commander for Northwest London. He had gained operational policing experience in a variety of roles

From the start, BJ always had an interest in operational policing. In particular, public order policing. His passion for keeping people safe showed throughout his time with the MPS. This was demonstrated through the operational roles he undertook as he moved up through the policing ranks.

Roles included overseeing the policing of football crowds and the Notting Hill Carnival. Large scale protests, and the London 2012 Olympics. Not to mention the implementations of Safer Neighbourhood Teams. All this experience led him to become Commander for Public Order in London.

BJ also worked as one of the National Counter Terrorism Commanders.

In 2017, BJ was seconded to the role of Deputy Chief Constable for Essex Police. He took over as the Chief Constable in October 2018.

Utilising his wealth of policing experience, BJ has worked on building community confidence in Essex. Along with his Chief Officer team, he continues to shape a workforce representative of our diverse communities. A workforce that has the ability to meet what our communities need.

This has included making sure his officers, staff and volunteers have the equipment they need for 21st Century Policing,. This involved the modernisation of the force's IT capabilities.

BJ also continues to champion diversity, equality, and inclusion throughout the force. He is a firm ally for LGBTQ+ communities. He continues to lead on, and enhance, the force’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion strategy. The widely acclaimed ‘We Value Difference’ recruitment campaign gained plaudits from the College of Policing.

During his time as Essex Police Chief Constable, BJ has built a strong and capable command team. This has ensured the force has effectively dealt with significant and challenging events. This has included the unprecedented impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. The fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess by a terrorist. And the tragic death of 39 migrants found in a container lorry once it had reached Essex. This case resulted in the conviction and imprisonment of seven people for a total of more than 92 years.

Alongside his Chief Constable responsibilities, BJ is also the chair of the NPCC Operations Coordination Committee (NOCC). This committee has 13 wide-ranging national portfolios. It includes armed policing, public order and specialist areas such as aviation, maritime and roads policing. As part of this national responsibility, BJ also leads on the Joint Emergency Interoperability Programme (JESIP). This involves setting out how all emergency services work together to save lives and reduce harm.

He is also the president of the Essex Police Choir, Band and Sports Association.

BJ has a postgraduate diploma in Police Leadership from Leicester University. He is also a graduate of the Cabinet Office Leaders UK senior public service leadership programme.

The Essex Police Chief was awarded the Queen's Policing Medal (QPM) for Distinguished Service, as part of Queen Elizabeth's New Year's Honours in 2022. 

BJ is married to a former police officer, has two teenage daughters and an annoying Spaniel.