Chris Bradford

Chris is a Chief Inspector for Essex Police, where he has worked since 2006. He is currently the District Commander for the Basildon District. Chris is interested in bridging the gap between research and practice in policing.

Twitter: @CInspBradford

Email: [email protected]

Background

Chris Bradford joined Essex Police in 2006, having previously worked as a retail store manager. He has worked in a variety of fields across policing including local response, incident management and public protection. He is an accredited detective, a tactical firearms commander, and an accredited mentor. As well as operational roles, Chris has carried out a number of strategic roles within Essex Police. He was a 'Staff Officer' for chief officers where he supported the most senior officers in Essex Police through the early years of austerity; he later led a project team in the review and re-design of the force’s ‘Crime and Public Protection Command’. Prior to his current role, Chris led the improvements to the force’s crime recording arrangements, resulting in the force achieving the best inspection result in the country from Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC).

In 2014, Chris was successful in gaining a place on the police’s High Potential Development Scheme, a national programme designed to ‘challenge and equip’ future leaders of the police service. This programme allowed Chris to study Police Leadership at Warwick University and introduced him to the potential benefits academic knowledge and research can bring to the practical world of policing.

Research interests

• Prevalence of a learning culture in the police service
• Use of 'Operations Management' techniques in the police environment
• Evidence Based Policing
• Criminal Investigation
• Public confidence in the police

Qualifications

• 2016 PGDip in Police Leadership and Management (Warwick University)
• 2018 MSc in Police Leadership and Management (Warwick University)