Bristol has found itself at the centre of national and even international conversations about policing, protest and criminal justice. At the top of the police chain of command is the Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset (ASP). The force covers approximately 1.7 million people across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
And now there is a new sheriff in town. After a selection process led by Mark Shelford, the elected Conservative Police and Crime Commissioner, Sarah Crew was appointed Chief Constable in November 2021.
So who is Crew and how will she handle this powerful and influential role, and deal with the diversity of policing issues in the region?
In an interview on Bristol Unpacked, the Cable’s podcast, Crew chatted with Neil Maggs about challenges, priorities and controversies for the force – from protests, to sexual violence and the war on drugs.
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