New Police Chief chosen
A POLICE officer from the Constabulary is set to become Guernsey’s new Chief of Police next month.
Damian Kitchen's career in the police has spanned numerous areas and ranks over nearly 30 years.
Mr Kitchen said he could not wait to get started in the job.
‘Having visited the island on several occasions now, I have undertaken a number of preparatory meetings and have been impressed by the commitment and friendliness of the officers and staff I have met in both the policing and Border Agency teams,’ he said in a media statement.
‘While I bring many years of experience to the role, I have much to learn about delivering law enforcement and working with partners in the context of Guernsey. I am grateful for the support of the Home Affairs team during both the recruitment process and recent months leading up to my official appointment. I am certain that this close relationship will continue and we will work together to deliver a first-class service to communities and visitors across the Bailiwick.’
Mr Kitchen will take up the post of Chief Officer of Guernsey Police full time in November. He will also assume the role of the Head of Law Enforcement, while a review into the Bailiwick Law Enforcement’s structure is carried out by Home Affairs.
He has senior leadership experience as a chief inspector and a superintendent in operational policing.
Most recently Mr Kitchen has been working as the head of operations at the National Police Coordination Centre in London, where he has led the national mutual aid resourcing of events such as the G7 summit, the Commonwealth Games, the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III.
He has overseen operational teams such as the firearms team and roads policing teams in Lancashire, before becoming the operations manager for the constabulary, overseeing the policing of Blackpool and surrounding areas, and was leading on stop and search and anti-social behaviour for the force.
Home Affairs president Rob Prow said Mr Kitchen would bring a huge amount of policing knowledge with him.
‘While we are fortunate to have many dedicated officers already within Guernsey Police and the Guernsey Border Agency, making this appointment from the UK will allow us to bring in a fresh pair of eyes and different experiences, which will be invaluable in continuing to evolve Guernsey Police and Bailiwick Law Enforcement – particularly as we conduct a review of that structure,’ he said.
The interview panel, which was led by Home Affairs and had independent membership from HMIC, conducted interviews with candidates in late spring, and identified Mr Kitchen as its preferred candidate from the outset.
Mr Kitchen will initially be assuming the post as part of a secondment agreement with Lancashire Constabulary, leading to a contract directly with the States of Guernsey.
Guernsey’s Chief of Police also has responsibility for Alderney, and works with and has oversight of law enforcement in Sark.
Deputy Prow thanked outgoing Head of Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy, who is retiring.
Background on the new Chief of Police
Born and raised in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, Damian Kitchen joined Lancashire Constabulary in January 1996, working over the next few years in uniformed police constable and sergeants’ roles in response, neighbourhood and roads policing across East Lancashire. He moved to HQ Operations Units in 2005 as a sergeant on the force motorway unit, then following a period working on Special Branch during the heightened terrorism period in 2006 he was promoted to inspector, heading up motorway and force roads policing, the serious collision investigation teams, and also working as a force incident manager.
On promotion to chief inspector in 2012 Mr Kitchen took command of the force operations teams, including dogs, mounted, firearms and roads policing.
Mr Kitchen was promoted to superintendent in July 2019 and made operations manager.
In March 2021 Mr Kitchen was appointed as head of operations at the National Police Coordination Centre.
