Deputy Chief Constable Jon Reilly

Jon joined Avon and Somerset Police in 1997 as a police constable. He held a wide variety of roles, both in uniform and as a detective. Jon became Assistant Chief Constable in 2019 and then Deputy Chief Constable in 2023.

As Deputy Chief Constable, Jon is responsible for the performance and conduct of the organisation and its staff. From 2021 to 2023, Jon was Assistant Chief Constable where he was responsible for the delivery of the Response and the Neighbourhood and Partnerships Directorates.

Prior to 2021, Jon was the South West Regional Assistant Chief Constable, leading specialist capabilities across five regional forces focusing on Counter-Terrorism, Serious and Organised Crime, and Forensics.

In his career, Jon has also served as Bristol Area Commander and as Head of Investigations.

Jon says:

“I first moved to Bristol at the age of 19 as a university student and, having decided to become a police officer, wanted to stay in the city and area that I had quickly come to enjoy.

“Starting out as a police constable in south Bristol, I worked in Response and Neighbourhood Policing before moving into a career in investigations.

“I have had the good fortune of meeting people from many different walks of life and gaining insights into the ways they live, work and spend their time to understand what is important to them. Policing is a real honour.

“Being Deputy Chief Constable is about ensuring we are on a path to deliver outstanding policing for everyone.

“It is about ensuring that our values – caring, inclusive, learning and courageous – of which I am a huge supporter, are reflected in how we look after our communities and our workforce. Values-based leadership has been very important to me throughout my career.

“I take real pride in how we police; continuously looking for ways to improve and providing an excellent quality of service. I am inspired by the people I have met during my career who drive my commitment to ensuring we deliver outstanding policing for everyone.”

Key responsibilities

Senior responsible officer for conduct matters (oversight of Professional Standards and Counter Corruption)
Recognising the importance of performance and good governance; delivering His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) inspection regimes, Home Office strategic objectives, and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan
Chief Officer lead for Faith and Beliefs
Collaborating with key stakeholders including the Home Office, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Independent Advisory Groups and scrutiny panels, local authorities, other emergency services and the private and third sectors

Biography

1997 – Uniformed and detective roles with Avon and Somerset Police
2010 – Detective Chief Inspector and Staff Officer to the Chief Constable and
Chief Officer Group
2012 – Detective Superintendent, Head of Bristol CID
2014 – Chief Superintendent, Bristol Area Commander
2017 – Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of Investigations
2019 – South West Regional Assistant Chief Constable for a collaboration of five regional police forces focusing on specialist capabilities
2021 – Assistant Chief Constable, Neighbourhoods, Partnerships and Response
2023 – Promoted to Deputy Chief Constable

Career highlights and achievements

Leading the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), Counter-Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW) and South West Forensics (SWF) as the Assistant Chief Constable for the South West region.
Delivering a major restructure of regional forensic services through the SWF collaboration, ensuring it remains fit for purpose in line with the changing demands of policing including significant performance improvement.
Achieving the Bristol Area Commander role to which Jon had long aspired, with responsibility for the delivery of all policing services across the city in which he had lived and worked for over twenty years. Consistently building effective and highly performing teams through leadership development at all levels based on a caring and supportive approach.
As Bristol Area Commander, improving trust and confidence in under-represented communities by building effective relationships with community stakeholders and developing and re-energising a now highly regarded and effective Independent Advisory Group.
Significantly improving accountability and performance as Avon and Somerset Police lead for stop and search, proactively introducing increased transparency and scrutiny leading to an outstanding Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) grading.
Senior investigating officer in a range of serious and major criminal investigations.

Qualification, awards and recognition

Masters in Civil Engineering and European Studies (Bristol University and University of Cantabria, Spain)
Strategic Firearms Commander
Public Order and Multi-Agency Events Gold Commander

Personal life

Jon is married, with two children
He is a huge rugby fan and a Bristol Bears season ticket holder
Jon enjoys spending time walking with his black Labrador
He is a practicing member of his local church