Profile and contact information

Sarah started her police career in September 1994, having completed an honours degree in Classics the year before. The next five years were something of a change: These were spent in South Bristol, where she worked as a constable in uniform and plain clothes roles.

In December 1999 she moved to North Bristol on promotion to take over supervision of a response team, her first night shift coinciding with a very busy Millennium Eve and a steep learning curve. In September 2000 she became sergeant of the District Crime Unit, remaining there during the roll out of sector policing until 2002 when she moved into a Detective Sergeant role, managing the first Southmead Sector Criminal Investigation Department Team.

In May 2003 Sarah was promoted to a Detective Inspector role with direct responsibility for the central Bristol Criminal Investigations Department office and the investigation of serious and major crime occurring within the district. Over the next 18 months she gained a great deal of experience of the Senior Investigating Officer role, often in very quick succession and once whilst hobbling around on crutches.

In 2004, when the decision was made to amalgamate the former central, south and north Bristol districts, Sarah was given the task of merging the three independent intelligence functions and to create the first ever pan-Bristol tasking and coordinating process. She was subsequently awarded a temporary promotion to Dep.Chief Inspector with responsibility for Bristol's intelligence and proactive resources.

This promotion became permanent in 2005 with a posting to Headquarters Crime Standards. A lateral move to become the Head of the Force Intelligence Bureau followed in 2006.

In 2007 Sarah made her return to Bristol as Detective Chief Inspector responsible for priority crime investigation. This challenging role directly involved her in leading a number of projects aimed at improving performance. Of particular note is the development of IMPACT (is an integrated team of police, probation, prison and drugs workers who target and work with persistent offenders who commit priority acquisitive crime) and the implementation of GUARDIAN Crime (crime recording system) across Bristol.

In May 2009 Sarah was promoted to Detective Superintendent, Head of Bristol Criminal Investigation Department. This role has seen her playing a leading role in the development of some notable initiatives including the establishment of Operation BLUESTONE, the Constabulary's first dedicated sexual assault investigation team, as well as Operation BEACON, an innovative implementation of the 'Street level Up' approach to organised drugs trafficking.

Whilst working at Headquarters in 2005 Sarah first became involved in shaping the Constabulary's approach to rape and sexual violence. This has seen her play a leading role in the establishment of the Sexual Assault Investigation Team in 2006 and, one of her proudest achievements, the creation of The Bridge Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which opened in February 2009. Sarah has also been instrumental in securing funding for and setting up the Safe Link Inedependent Sexual Violence Advisory service which supports all victims of sexual assault in partnership with The Bridge. Since 2010 Sarah has been the Force and South West Regional 'Rape Champion', representing the region on the Assoc. of Chief Police Officers' national forum.

Sarah is also Professionaling Investigation Programme Level 3 accredited having performed the Senior Investigating Officer role within homicide investigations.

Outside of work, if you keep your eyes peeled, you may spot her out running the roads of South Glos in an effort to manage her stress levels or exercising her Jack Russell 'Romulus' (please approach with  care: He has a very high opinion of himself!).

Address: Concorde House, Harlequin Office Park, Fieldfare, Emersons Green, Bristol, BS16 7FN

Tel: 01179 286001

Email:
sarah.crew@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Website: www.avonandsomerset.police.uk