Police and crime commissioner cancels ‘ridiculous’ national theatre tour plan
Colin Sutton says the reaction from people in Norfolk made him think again
Last updated 17th Sep 2026
Reform UK’s first police and crime commissioner (PCC) has cancelled plans to go on a national theatre tour with more than 100 dates next year following criticism.
Colin Sutton, who was elected as Norfolk’s PCC in July, was due to tour the UK next year with a live show called The Makings Of A Murderer – Double Jeopardy.
Promoters for the show had listed 130 dates online across 11 months of next year and Mr Sutton initially defended his decision, saying: “Am I not entitled to spend my spare time as I wish?”
Former Metropolitan Police detective Mr Sutton had said he would only be “incommunicado” for two-hour slots while he was on stage and it “would not impinge on my duties as PCC”.
But, on Wednesday, he told a meeting of North Norfolk District Council’s scrutiny committee that he had decided not to go ahead with the tour, the BBC reported.
He told councillors: “What surprised me and what made me reflect and think again was the reaction that I got personally from a number of residents.
“I’m not sure I could do 127 dates because it was ridiculous, but I could have done some.
“What I don’t want to do is to give the impression to anybody that I don’t take this role seriously and I’m not going to do a good job on this.
“So, that’s why my decision has been: ‘OK, I’m not legally obliged to do this, I’m not going to do it’.”
Mr Sutton, who was a police officer for 30 years, led the investigation that brought serial killer Levi Bellfield to justice.
The Government announced last year that the role of police and crime commissioner will be scrapped in 2028 when the next nationwide elections are set to be held to save at least £100 million.