Towards Excellence Conference 2024

Tuesday 14 May 2024
8:30am to 4:30pm

Colchester United Football Club Community Stadium, Essex

Agenda

Speaker biographies

Dr. Alison Heydari
Metropolitan Police Temporary Deputy Assistant Commissioner

Alison joined Hampshire Constabulary at the end of 2000. As a student officer, Alison successfully applied for the Home Office Accelerated Promotion Scheme for Graduates and was promoted to Sergeant with just over two years’ service.

Alison has a varied career which includes working as a detective in the Criminal Investigations Department and in uniform roles, including Public Protection lead, child abuse investigator, city commander and emergency response commander. Alison has managed impactive community issues and driven the force wide strategic response to hate crime and harmful practices as force lead. Alison practiced as a trained Negotiator for eight years and is also a Gold Public Order Public Safety Commander. Her interest in the response to and impact of Domestic Abuse has been realised in her influence on policy development, tactical delivery and academic research.

Alison’s policing roles have been enhanced by secondments to His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue and teaching at John Jay Exchange College of Criminal Justice, New York. She has also carried out work in San Paulo, Brazil supporting victims of people trafficking.

Alison mentors extensively and is heavily involved in supporting the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. Her passions centre on utilising the tenets of procedural justice to build legitimacy in policing, building community trust and confidence.

Alison joined the Metropolitan Police Service in June 2020 as a Frontline Policing Commander with additional pan London responsibility for a number of portfolios including neighbourhood policing. Alison is the NPCC Chief Officer lead for Out of Court Resolutions (Disposals). Her recent appointment as Director for the Police Race Action Plan sees her driving a national programme of work necessary to respond to critically low levels of trust and confidence in Black communities.

Academic achievements include a Post Graduate Certificate of Education, 1st Class Honors BSc in Social Policy, MSc Criminology and Criminal Justice and is a Chartered Management Institute Fellow at level 7 in both Strategic Leadership & Management and Coaching & Mentoring. Alison graduated with a PhD from Portsmouth University in October 2019. Her published papers include those on Domestic Abuse and applying the pillars of procedural justice to community engagement.

Ben Julian Harrington QPM
Essex Police Chief Constable

Brought up in North London and educated at Saint Ignatius College in Enfield, Ben-Julian - or ‘BJ’, started policing when he joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1990 in what was then the Chingford and Walthamstow Division of North-East London. He brought with him experience working in Customs and Excise as well as having been a reserve soldier in the Parachute Regiment.

BJ worked his way through the ranks from response officer (responding to 999 calls for help) to become Area Commander for North-West London in October 2014. In that time, he also led the Tottenham High Road and the Broad Water Farm Estate team, oversaw the Secure Counter Terrorist Custody suite at Paddington Green, and was Superintendent in charge of Crime and Operations in Lewisham. Finally, as the Borough Commander for Camden he continued his close work with communities, policing diverse and complex parts of the capital.

He has been Chief Constable of Essex Police since 2018 and has personally led the force’s Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Strategy from the outset. Essex was one of the first forces to share body-worn video footage with community representatives to improve the way both officers and communities understand stop and search and the first force to launch a long-term recruitment and colleague retention campaign based on inclusion and shared values. He is committed to policing with the consent of all communities in Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock.

Claire Talbot
Essex Police Chief Superintendent

Claire Talbot is the Head of Professionalism at Essex Police. Claire is also the Essex Police tactical lead for tackling Violence against Women and Girls. Claire is working externally with partners to create safer spaces for our communities in public, private and online spaces as well as working internally to improve the trust and confidence in policing through addressing culture and behaviours.

Ella Latham
Essex Police Chief Inspector

Ella joined Essex Police in 2003 initially as one of the First Police Community Support Officers in Essex whereby she was awarded staff member of the year in 2005. Shortly after in 2005, Ella Joined as a Police Constable where she begun her career at Braintree. Ella has had a varied career through her service to Essex Police as a response officer to public order trained, CRBN bronze commander and pubic order medic, she has worked across many of the stations within Essex. Ella deployed on many high profile operations which include the G20 conference in Northern Ireland, the 2012 Olympics and London Riots. Ella has also worked at Stansted airport and within Operational Policing Command as the Public order training Inspector and Operational Planning Inspector whereby she oversaw a number of large incidents which include Operation Melrose and several presidential visits. In 2021 Ella promoted to Chief Inspector and is now the Tendring District commander.

Outside of work Ella is a proud wife and mother to two young children that keep her very busy. Ella enjoys an active outdoor lifestyle in a rural community and the family run a small beekeeping business. Ella’s enjoys the outdoor life with her springer spaniel on long walks and enjoys ventures with the children and paddleboarding.

Gina Bonsu

Gina Bonsu is a Mum to three boys aged 16, 11 and 9.

Raised in Tottenham, Gina has lived in Thurrock for 10 years and works for Thurrock Coalition – An organisation that seeks the views of experts by experience and works co-productively towards the benefit of all disabled people.

Gina is also co-director of U-Turnships - a social enterprise that supports young people locally.

These experiences have led Gina to work collaboratively with Essex Police as a Thurrock IAG member, Thurrock BWV Chair, Essex Police Custody Suite Chair, and a National Reform Group member for PRAP, representing Essex Police.

Godwin Daudu

Godwin came into the Voluntary sector after 26 years in Hospitality Management in greater London and the East of England. After volunteering locally during the pandemic, he joined the African Families in the UK (AFiUK) CIC, as a Community Ambassador and later the Operations Manager for 2 years and is now a Community Builder and lead of the Diverse Communities Action Plan (DCAP) in Community 360.

Godwin has now transferred the knowledge and experience he has gained with AFiUK, (and elsewhere) supporting ethnic minorities, and reducing inequalities to his current role, of ensuring diverse communities in Colchester (and Essex county thrive productively together). Community 360 and AFiUK are providing a multi-agency ( the Essex Police Force) solution to engaging with and supporting citizens as well as those who are 'hard to reach' and 'seldom heard' communities, through a sustained programme of community engagement, building or maintaining key partnerships and networks ( with agencies like the HNS and the Essex Police) which will enable communities to do more for themselves.

A community engagement and multi-agency approach will ensure citizens know where to go, have access to a great range of opportunities and have support with expert but efficient resources. This partnership has results in Godwin becoming the Chair of the Independent Advisory Group ( in Tendring) and panel member of the Essex Police standards and performance management structures.

Godwin believes that the era of just standing on the terraces and hauling criticism at the performance of the police is no longer useful, community leaders need to get on the pitch and get involved in the play to effect meaningful change and build productive collaboration.

Iman Atta

Iman is the Director of Tell MAMA (Measuring Anti-Muslim Attacks), where she has been instrumental in the development of the programme and currently focuses on research development and advocacy.

Tell MAMA ensures the mapping, monitoring and measuring of anti-Muslim hatred across England and Wales and is the only national programme that works in this area. Tell MAMA also provides court support. Furthermore, Tell MAMA provides training for local authorities and police groups in understanding the changing nature of anti-Muslim hate. Since its inception in 2012 it has assisted over 25,000 people.

Iman is also the Director at Faith Matters; where she leads inter-faith, inter-cultural, conflict resolution and anti-extremism and discrimination programmes in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the UK. Faith Matters works on reducing extremism and developing platforms for discourse and interaction between faith communities such as the Muslim, Sikh, Christian and Jewish communities across the UK.

Iman co-founded the national annual No2H8 Crime Awards which provides a platform for over 40 national hate crime agencies to honour individuals, organisations, politicians and young people who tirelessly counter hatred, prejudice and intolerance. This national event has attracted support from the Mayor of London, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mayor of West Yorkshire, senior Government Ministers and from police forces and non-governmental agencies across the United Kingdom.

Dr. James Hunter

James Hunter is Principal Lecturer in Public Policy and leads the Quantitative and Spatial Criminology Research Group at Nottingham Trent University. His research interests centre on crime victimisation and inequalities and how understanding victimisation risk can shape crime reduction initiatives.

Recent research commissioned by the Home Office, National Crime Agency and numerous police forces in England and Wales has focused on victimisation risk in relation to burglary, violence against women and girls, homicide, shoplifting, human trafficking, and modern slavery.

Joyce McIntrye
Ambassador for African Families in the UK

Joyce McIntyre is a Community "Ambassador for African Families in the UK" and also the founder of RAFIKI COMMUNITY CIC an organisation based in Colchester that is working to create safe spaces for people within ethnic minorities.

Joyce is passionate about empowering people within ethnic minorities to move beyond past trauma and embrace life in all its potential.

Joyce has received a number of awards, including the Kings Award for Voluntary Services & The HIgh Sheriff of Essex Award (in recognition of great and valuable services to the community).

Leighton Hammett
Essex Police Chief Superintendent

Leighton has 20 years of experience in policing, he has held senior roles in Essex Police, leading the force response to Missing People, Gangs and County Lines. Leighton has also worked collaboratively across Essex and Kent Police, delivering Intelligence led policing against Serious Organised Crime, here he worked with many other agencies at a strategic level to bring about a whole systems approach, looking at sustained solutions around crime prevention.

Leighton now works as the Essex Police lead for Strategic Partnerships and Prevention, he is really passionate about organisations working together to bring about sustained positive change for the people we serve. Leighton has always worked on the principle that if we put the public at the heart of everything we do, we work with pride and are tenacious, pushing that bit harder to solve problems, then we will succeed.

Lisa Leonce

Lisa has over 25 years’ experience as a successful Executive, Career and Leadership Coach supporting professionals through transitioning and achieving their desired role. An experienced Trainer and Consultant, designing and delivering bespoke services for organisations to improve and maintain effectiveness and inclusivity.

Lisa is an engaging and inspirational speaker, host and panellist, with the ability to address challenging topics in an informative, thought provoking and humorous way. She is a former radio host and producer for a weekly talk show. Lisa continues to serve as a Chairperson in the East London Magistrates Courts and is the Chair of the Essex Police Independent Advisory Group for Epping Forest and Brentwood.

Naomi Edwards
Essex Police Superintendent

Supt Edwards transferred to Essex Police May 2021. Supt Edwards is the Force Strategic Lead for Hate Crime, ASB and PREVENT. She has 18yrs experience in policing and has worked in some of London’s most diverse boroughs. Supt Edwards’ Portfolios include Public Protection, Sexual Offences, High Harm offenders, Homicide, Organised Crime and Continuous improvement.

Neil Pudney KPM
Essex Police Detective Superintendent

Neil joined Essex Police in 1994 having graduated from the University College of Swansea. His initial years were spent in Thurrock as a uniformed response officer, neighbourhood beat office before he joined a proactive tactical team targeting drugs supply and serious acquisitive crimes such as dwelling burglary, robbery and organised vehicle crime. From 2001 he achieved an ambition to become an accredited detective and has worked in a variety of roles across the whole Force including CID, Domestic Abuse, Target Offender Teams and Intelligence. During this period he performed at every detective rank from Detective Constable right through to Detective Superintendent.

In 2018 he became the District Commander of Southend and in 2020 he was promoted to Detective Superintendent and became head of investigations within Crime and Public Protection Command. He is the Force and Regional lead for child death, child abuse, rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO). Neil was recognised in 2023 New Years Honours List where he was awarded the Kings Police Medal (KPM) for his work within Crime & Public Protection and Victims.

Phil Stinger
Essex Police Superintendent

Phil started his career in 2001 in the Metropolitan Police, transferring to Essex in 2022. Phil has worked in front line and neighbourhood roles in North London, East London, Custody Command and is now the Superintendent for Specialist operations.

Phil is a nationally accredited Public Order Bronze and Silver Commander and is a qualified Tactical firearms Commander. Phil is the force lead for stop and search and is implementing processes to ensure Essex Police continue to be one of the leaders for stop and search across the UK in terms of professionalism and accountability.

Rachel Nolan
Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable

Rachel joined Essex Police in 1998 where she worked at Canvey Island and Rayleigh, before becoming a Sergeant there working at Benfleet and Rochford. In 2006 she was supported by local Rotary Clubs to spend time in South Africa and Lesotho learning about cultural differences and diversity in policing.

Rachel completed the Strategic Command Course in 2020, passing with distinction, before being successful in her application as Assistant Chief Constable (Local Policing and Crime & Public Protection) in April 2020. She currently has responsibility for Local Policing, Special Constabulary and our Local Policing Support Unit.

Rachel is a Gold Commander for public order and CBRN and is a strategic firearms commander. Rachel is passionate about the development, mentoring and progression of junior colleagues, especially those from under-represented groups, and understands through her own varied career in policing the importance of extending opportunities to everyone to keep all of our communities safe.

Rachel Walton

Rachel Walton is a dedicated mother, acclaimed author, and Co-founder of African Families in the UK. With a strong belief in the transformative power of Community Ambassadors, Rachel has devoted her efforts to mentoring and guiding individuals who serve as catalysts for positive change within their communities.

In 2018, Rachel's exceptional contributions to her community were acknowledged with recognition by Her Majesty the Queen. Rachel is a staunch advocate for investing in Community Ambassadors, recognizing them as pivotal agents of sustainable change within communities.

Under Rachel's guidance, the Community Ambassadors she has mentored received the esteemed King’s Award last year, a testament to her effective leadership and mentorship. With a focus on safeguarding, law, safety, health, and social care, Rachel has actively engaged with ethnic minority groups, advocating for their rights and addressing systemic inequities. Through her involvement in various initiatives, Rachel has consistently demonstrated her ability to dismantle barriers and drive transformative change within diverse communities.

Richard Leicester
Kent and Essex Police Director of Human Resources, Leadership and Development

Richard Leicester is Director of Human Resources is the Chief Officer lead on the development and delivery of strategic human resources and learning and development across both Kent Police and Essex Police.

Richard has overall strategic responsibility for:

• The development and implementation of corporate people and learning strategies
• The delivery of learning and development
• Recruitment and people resourcing
• Operational and strategic human resources delivery
• Occupational health services
• Talent management and people development
• Performance Improvement Units

Richard successfully completed the Strategic Command Course (SCC) in 2018, is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and has substantial experience of leading both generalist and specialist human resource related functions. Richard has also been instrumental in leading the diversity function of Essex Police, ensuring that we treat everyone fairly and developing our staff support networks to fulfil our commitment of having a culture which is fully inclusive for all.

Roger Hirst
Essex Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

Roger Hirst was first elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex in May 2016.

Mr Hirst later became the first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in October 2017 and continues to work nationally and locally to build stronger links between emergency services and help create more secure communities.

Mr Hirst committed in his Police and Crime Plan to increase the local, visible and accessible nature of policing in Essex, crack down on anti-social behaviour and protect children and vulnerable people, as well as continuing to address domestic abuse, deal with gangs and serious violence, and improve road safety.

Sam Girdlestone
Essex Police Inspector

Sam is the Community Policing Team Inspector for the Chelmsford and Maldon District. He has been a Police Officer for 23 years, the majority of my service being as a firearms officer (14 years). In that time, he has worked on response teams in Tendring and Colchester, then to Colchester on the Tutor Unit, Stanway Road Policing and then to the firearms team (Force Support Unit). On promotion he moved to Stansted Airport as a firearms patrol sergeant and then back to FSU as a firearm’s tactical advisor in 2016.

He has had an interesting career where he has been actively involved in numerous high-profile incidents. From the Olympic torch relay for the security operation for London 2012, he was also fortunate to command the arrival and departure of the president of the United States, Barrack Obama, when he landed at Stansted in 2016 and Donald Trump in 2018. The biggest low point of his career was responding to the murder of Pc Ian Dibell QPM in Clacton.

He knew Ian personally and this made his response the more difficult. His biggest achievement within work was being recognised for saving the life of a suicidal female in the river Colne for which he was fortunate to receive a Chief Constables commendation and Heart FM Hero of the Year Award.

In 2020 he was promoted to Inspector and back to working on a response shift, and has enjoyed coming back to front line operational policing, responding to a variety of incidents on a daily basis and working closely with partner agencies and other departments.

Outside of work, with the exception of being a proud husband and father, his biggest achievement was playing rugby for England and Wasps at under 21’s. He loves rugby, paddle boarding and spending time at his beach hut at home, as well as scuba diving and spearfishing in the Isle of Wight when on leave.

Sara McParland

Sara is a Team Leader at Essex Victim Support and manages a team of caseworkers and admin staff who provide support to victims, witnesses and anyone affected by crime in the county of Essex. Liaising with partners to highlight their work and identify gaps in services for victims and witnesses of crime.

Working together with Essex Police they aim to ensure that victims voices are heard and where possible changes are put in place to better support people through the criminal justice process. Some of the key projects Sara is involved with are the Victims Feedback Panel, Op Reassure and the Romance Fraud Peer Support Group.

Spencer Clarke

Spencer has worked in local government for 37 years initially training as a civil engineer before moving into a community safety role that covers the districts of Chelmsford and Maldon. He pioneered the introduction of CCTV for Chelmsford in 1995 and still has the responsibility for strategic development of CCTV. More recently, he played a key role for the introduction of a Women's Safety Charter for Chelmsford, and is currently overseeing an exciting project with the charity Make Space for Girls to co-design green spaces that are safer and more inclusive for teenage girls.

Stuart Hooper QPM
Essex Police Chief Superintendent

I have been in policing since 1997 and all of my service has been with Essex Police. I started my career at Harlow response before moving to Grays on promotion in 2001. There I served on response, in custody and in the community safety unit where I designed the first unit based in the council building. I then went onto create the first Domestic Violence and Hate crime unit. It was in this department that I first got the bug for detective work and went on to complete the ICIDP programme. I also got the opportunity to create a short film to raise the awareness of Hate crime that was hosted by Gary Lineker and which included comments from Tottenham Hotspur players; the short film was even show-cased at White Hart Lane.

Stuart has overseen the introduction of the new Target Operating Model (TOM) in Contact Management. This will change the way public contact works in Essex Police.

The TOM will focus on the victim journey, providing an early resolution where possible, eliminating backlogs, and reducing waiting times. Officers, Specials and police staff will receive a more efficient service from our skilled colleagues in CMC as a result.  

At home, I am a keen Spurs fan, which is why the opportunity to interview the players is so memorable for me. I am married and have two children that keep me very busy, in October I am going to be a grandad !. In the only time I get to myself, I like to go on long dog walks