Temporary Joint Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Hamlin (Collaboration & Strategic Change)

Sarah Hamlin joined Norfolk Constabulary in 1986 and was initially based at King’s Lynn. She has served both in uniform and as a detective at all ranks up to and including Chief Inspector.

In 2001 Sarah Hamlin started the SOS Bus Project, a multi-agency initiative to meet the needs of young people in Norwich’s club land at night. The idea was to develop a first point of contact for those whose well-being was threatened by an inability to get home, were suffering illness or injury, emotional distress, or were otherwise vulnerable.

Sarah Hamlin went on to become a Detective Inspector and following this was promoted to Chief Inspector based at Bethel Street where she had responsibility for the urban sectors. She has a keen interest in diversity issues and worked with the British Association of Women in Policing, editing their quarterly magazine over a period of three years.

Following promotion to Superintendent, Sarah Hamlin worked in Corporate Support followed by Criminal Justice. It was in this arena that she set out proposals for delivery of justice to be more outcome-focussed. This included the introduction of a number of new ways of working including the furtherance of Penalty Notices for Disorder, conditional cautions and the use of Restorative Justice.

Sarah Hamlin is a trained negotiator and finds this area of work one of the most personally satisfying. Sarah has completed a BSc (Hons) and an MSc in Community Safety. She has two children.

Sarah Hamlin acted as Temporary Assistant Chief Constable, with the responsibility for Organisational Development, Bureaucracy, and Business Performance Unit (BPU).