Meet the OPCC Team

Simon has significant experience of the police, crime and community safety sector both locally and nationally, and has worked across the public, private and third sector. Simon provides independent evidence-based governance and policy advice and has a passion for building improved public services that are transparent and accountable to the public purse.  

Simon joined the Office of the PCC in May 2016, prior to this he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Bedfordshire PCC, and before this spent several years at the Home Office in a variety of policy and research posts including latterly as Head of Localism Policy. He started his policing career as a Community Safety Partnership analyst. Outside of work, he occassionally writes for Policinginsight.com, and for the past 20 years, has been a volunteer coach for a community sports charity.

Adam joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2016, moving across from Dorset Police.  He has worked within the Force’s Communications and Engagement Department in a variety of roles, most recently as the Deputy Head of Department, and oversaw media relations for Dorset Police during the 2012 Olympics.

Prior to 2008, Adam worked for numerous print, broadcast and online media organisations. He is a qualified journalist and an Accredited Practitioner at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Away from the office, Adam enjoys time with his family, watching football, listening to obscure music and enjoying his home town, Poole.

After 18 years in retail and field sales management, John joined Dorset Police as a training officer in 1995, where in addition to delivering the wider curriculum, he became the lead diversity trainer for a number of years. Following completion of a postgraduate qualification in Human Resource Management in 2001 and subsequent Continuous Professional Development, John became a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development in 2005.

From 2002 onwards, John became firmly established as a specialist in partnership working, helping the Force to develop strong links with other statutory and non-statutory organisations, in order to better address community safety and criminal justice issues. Having fulfilled a number of key roles for the Force in the ensuing years, he joined the OPCC in 2014, bringing with him a wealth of relevant knowledge and experience, which now help him perform his Commissioning and Partnerships Manager role within the team.

Jason joined the Dorset Police Authority in 2008 and transferred across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012. His responsibilities are many and varied and include directly supporting the PCC and Chief Executive with research, briefings, report writing, consultation responses, correspondence handling, presentation and speech writing, performance monitoring and liaison with internal and external partners.

Prior to working in policing his previous experience includes roles with a housing association, local authority and NHS Trust. Jason is a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester where he studied History and Politics. In his spare time Jason enjoys music, sport and spending time with his young family. He does a bit of running and, despite a love of football, supports Peterborough United (Up the Posh!)

After studying for a degree in resources science at Kingston University, Helen spent 22 years working in local government on environmental projects, community development and for the last 16 years, on crime and disorder reduction and community safety. The community safety work involved working in partnership with a wide range of other agencies in and tackling anti-social behaviour, hate crime (discrimination), and domestic violence and abuse. Helen also co-ordinated safeguarding and child protection work.

Helen is the Restorative Justice Project Manager with responsibility for developing and implementing a ‘Restorative Dorset’ strategy in partnership with other agencies - to provide access to victims for restorative justice. This is to improve victim satisfaction in the ways anti-social behaviour and crimes are brought to justice.

Desney joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in April 2014 to work on the Victims’ Bureau and victim services commissioning. As a professionally qualified Project Manager she is responsible for improving the service provision, the accessibility and the support available for victims of crime in the Dorset Area. This is valuable work to improve victim satisfaction and to provide appropriate support to victims to help them cope and recover from their ordeal.

Prior to working for the OPCC, she worked for Dorset Police for 11 years, working in partnership to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads of Dorset.

Desney relocated to Dorset 13 years ago from Surrey where she worked for Surrey County Council in road safety engineering and analysis.

Becky joined the PCC’s office in February 2017 as part of the new communications and engagement team.

Previously, she worked for the Dorset Police communications and engagement department as a communications officer. Becky’s day to day role includes handling media enquiries, running proactive campaigns, engaging with the public and ensuring residents are kept up to date with the work of the OPCC.

Yvonne joined the Dorset Police Authority in 2007 and transferred across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.  Her main responsibilities include providing governance support to the Chief Executive and OPCC staff, management of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme and servicing various committees and panels.

Prior to joining the Dorset Police Authority, Yvonne had a number of roles working in financial services in London and with the NHS in Dorset.

In her spare time Yvonne enjoys spending time with her family, socialising, motorbiking, practicing reiki and making a big fuss of her two black cats, Wally and Olly. 

Tom joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in March 2017 as Interim Governance Manager before taking his role as Governance Advisor. Tom is a qualified Chartered Secretary and until recently was Company Secretary for a financial services company.

His role includes representing the OPCC on relevant Force Boards and meetings, improving the effectiveness of the independent scrutiny panels, Out of Court Disposals, Use of Force and Stop and Search powers. 

In his spare time he enjoys DIY, walking and recreational swimming.  He has recently completed building a Dutch barn shed and a summer house. 

Anna joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in March 2017 as Governance Officer moving across from Dorset Police where she worked in the Postal Requisition Unit, prior to this she worked in Banking.

Anna is a graduate of the University of Winchester where she studied Social Sciences. Her role involves various tasks including coordinating the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme, and assisting with Governance related tasks.

Outside of work Anna enjoys running, traveling and spending time with family and friends.

Danni joined the PCC’s office in July 2014 as a placement student whilst studying for her degree in Sociology from the University of Bath, supporting the research, policy and engagement teams. After her final year back at university, she graduated in 2016 and re-joined the OPCC as Contact Officer.  Her role involves managing all correspondence coming into the office including calls, email and letters. 

Cathy joined the Dorset Police Authority as Administrative Support Officer in October 2002, transferring across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.  Prior to this she worked as PA/administrator in both the public and private sector. 

In December 2012, Cathy was successful in her application to become PA to the Police and Crime Commissioner, providing essential support and information to enable the Commissioner to carry out his duties.

Away from the office, Cathy enjoys time with her family, walking the dog, watching football and avoiding the gym.

Jenny has performed a number of roles working for local government providing administrative assistance to managers within Adult Services. She joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in April 2013 as Administrative Support Officer and gained promotion to PA to the Chief Executive in August 2013. She has recently returned to work part time as the PA to the Senior Management Team.

Jenny enjoys spending time with her family, eating cake, trying to keep fit and walking her cat Luna.

James joined the OPCC in November 2016 as a Modern Apprentice.

Before joining, James studied at Poole High School Sixth form for a year covering music, business studies and biology. He then joined a carpentry course at college before switching to a business and administration apprenticeship with the team.

In the office James assists in various admin and media tasks and enjoys sport and guitar in his spare time.