Debbie grew up in Leamington Spa and joined Warwickshire Police in March 1989. She has served across Warwickshire in a variety of roles and departments and served in every rank from Constable to Chief Co
nstable. Commencing her career within the south of the County, she worked on patrol and a variety of investigative roles, being promoted to Detective Sergeant in 2002.
Debbie progressed through the ranks, being the first female Warwickshire officer to achieve the rank of Detective Inspector working within Reactive CID, Proactive CID and Intelligence. As a Detective Chief Inspector, she set up the first Protecting Vulnerable Persons unit (PVP) and developed and implemented the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences into Warwickshire, before being promoted to Superintendent in 2009 to head up the then Judicial Services Department and having responsibility for custody and criminal justice.
She was one of the founder members of Senior Women in Policing for Warwickshire and was nominated and commended for a Continued Excellence in Performance Award presented by the British Association for Women in Policing.
Debbie was seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary (HMICFRS) in 2011 as a Specialist Staff Officer leading on Vulnerability and, in particular, Child Protection. Following this role, she returned to Warwickshire Police and was appointed as the first Policing Area Commander for South Warwickshire as part of the newly formed Strategic Alliance with West Mercia Police, with accountability for policing across the districts of Warwick and Stratford upon Avon.
In 2015 she was promoted as Chief Superintendent and performed roles across the former alliance with West Mercia Police, heading up the Assurance and Service Improvement function and then as Head of Crime and Operations with accountability across West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police.
Having been successful at the Senior Police National Assessment Centre (SPNAC) in November 2018, she graduated from the Strategic Command Course in March 2019 as the first Warwickshire female officer to do so.
Debbie was appointed as Assistant Chief Constable for Protective Services and Professional Services May 2019 whilst also leading the implementation of the force’s Evolve Change programme, transitioning services out of the Strategic Alliance. In February 2021 she was appointed as the force’s Temporary Deputy Chief Constable and was successful on the 1st July 2021 in becoming the first female Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police in its 164 year history.
Debbie holds the National portfolios on behalf of Policing (NPCC) for Vetting and Firearms Licensing and Explosives and a variety of regional responsibilities.
