Essex names first female chief constable
Rachel Nolan brings 27 years of local experience to lead the force
Rachel Nolan has become the first ever female Chief Constable of Essex Police.
Nolan has over 27 years of service within the force, having worked her way through every rank, and is now the 14th individual to take on this leadership role.
In a statement, Nolan expressed her feelings about the appointment: " “I am absolutely delighted and privileged today to be confirmed as the new Chief Constable of Essex Police and I look forward to formally taking up post in the coming months.
“Our force, through the strong leadership of our current Chief Constable BJ Harrington, has a strong track record of delivering for the public and a proud workforce of officers, staff and volunteers who make a difference every day.
“I look forward to leading our force, serving our communities and working with our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, Roger Hirst, and his team, to continue to keep Essex a safe place to live.
“I am committed to listening and working together to shape our approach, focusing on prevention, protection and professionalism, while always listening to our communities and victims to deliver the high-quality policing they expect and deserve."
Roger Hirst, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said he is confident in Nolan's ability to make Essex a safer place: "“Rachel Nolan showed she was the outstanding candidate at every stage of the rigorous and highly competitive appointment process to become the Chief Constable of Essex Police. She brings a wealth of policing knowledge, having served at every rank within the force, alongside significant strategic and national leadership experience.
“Rachel has a clear vision for the future of policing in Essex and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing our communities. Her commitment to prevention, tackling crime and improving confidence in the way the force supports victims closely aligns with the priorities set out in my Police and Crime Plan.
“I have every confidence Rachel will continue to build on the work achieved by the force in recent years, working with partners and communities to make Essex safer."
Nolan takes over the role from BJ Harrington who has led Essex Police since 2018.