Chief Constable Sarah Crew

OB 1989

Sarah became an officer with Avon and Somerset Police in September 1994 and took on the role of Deputy Chief Constable in June 2017.

In November 2021 she became their first female Chief Constable.

What are your best memories of BGS?

I really enjoyed my time at BGS. I remember preparing to sit the Oxford entrance exam and all the Classics teachers gave up their own time to prepare me with extra classes, practice exams etc. Looking back, I marvel at their dedication, commitment, and selflessness.

Winning the 800m race in the summer athletics at Failand stands out too. I had won the previous year using the classic tactic of staying on the front runner’s shoulder and then sprinting to victory at the end, beating Emily Silverton. The next year, Emily anticipated this and broke away in a sprint at 400m building up a very large lead. I could hear the spectators’ gasps. I dug in and started to reel her back, just managing to achieve it with a couple of metres to go. I remember the amazement and ‘well done’ from Mr Jakobek.

Even now, when in a pressurised situation and when it looks as though things are going the other way, I always visualise that race and it helps me find some energy and resolve.

Can you remember any teachers who had an impact on you?

I can remember all my teachers and the impacts they made but particularly David Miller and Phillip Revill. Mr Miller believed in me in a way no one had before, and he really pushed me which I like. I have always loved History and still do, but both David and Philip have followed my career, taking an interest in me, attending some community meetings when I have been representing the Police and asking some very pertinent questions.

Why the police force?

It felt exciting and challenging and I was not and have never been disappointed on both fronts. Oxford was a challenge but becoming a police officer was much harder. My drive for fairness and equality lies at the heart of my passion for policing. I have always been determined to stand up for the underdog and against the bully, and policing seemed to me to offer the greatest opportunity to help people directly on a personal, practical and human level.

What was it like being a young woman in policing?

I imagine my experience was the same as being a young woman joining any established institution. Looking back, I can see that I normalised and tolerated some things that I wouldn’t now, but these things were what I had normalised and tolerated in my life before joining the Police. I have never experienced any direct or indirect discrimination and often the skills I could bring to many scenarios were valued just as much as the traditional masculine ones. I have defused many tense situations using calmness, effective communication, and empathy. Most of my career was as a detective which requires good instincts, disciplined thought, and clear decision-making. Gender does not come into it. In fact, some of the best detectives I have ever worked with have been women.

What have been the highlights of your career?

Playing my part in establishing the first Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Avon and Somerset and the first Independent Sexual Violence Advisor service. More recently becoming the lead nationally for policing on rape and adult sexual offences. This has seen me engaged in transforming our response across the country through a unique collaboration with the best academics from universities in the UK and abroad. Finally, becoming the first women Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset Police in 2021.

What’s next for you?

I want to finish what I have started with my national work. I want to see Avon and Somerset Police fulfil their potential. I know that it must deliver an outstanding policing service to our communities, particularly those communities with a lower level of trust in the police or suspicion of us.

What motivates you?

Policing plays a really important role in a functioning democracy. I believe we have the best model of policing in the world. We police through the consent of our fellow citizens. We are servants of the King and not the Government of the day. I understand recent events (and not so recent) have endangered this bond of trust between citizens in uniform and citizens in our communities. I want to rebuild and strengthen it again and hand it over stronger to the next generations.

How do you relax?

I am also a part time carer for my elderly parents. This and my job keep me occupied all the time, but they engage me in different ways such that one distracts me from the other.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Believe in yourself, know your strengths, and invest time and effort in the people around you.