THE chief constable of Dorset Police has spoken of his “immense pride” as he looks back on a policing career that has spanned 30 years.

James Vaughan QVM, who officially retires today, says that he was inspired to join the police by his uncle.

In an interview with the Daily Echo, he highlighted force welfare improvements and a rise public trust among his best achievements. 

 

I had designs on changing the world, not toilet rolls."

 

He said: “I was always booked to join the family cleaning supply business that has existed since 1946. My older brother was heir to that throne as he was more business-minded. The work just didn’t excite me. I had designs on changing the world, not changing toilet rolls.

“I had huge admiration for my uncle who was a sergeant in Bristol and he was the one who encouraged me to try out for the police. I joined Wiltshire Police in 1992 and took to it like a duck to water, I couldn’t believe how suited I was to the work. I loved it.”

Mr Vaughan worked in various uniform and detective roles before moving up through the ranks to work in major, serious and organised crime, later becoming the head of CID.

“I look back and realise that I was exposed to leadership quite early in life,” Mr Vaughan said. “The way my father and grandfather were, I found it natural to be leader which is why I took every opportunity I could to work my way up.” 

After successfully completing the strategic command course in 2011, Mr Vaughan joined Dorset Police in May 2012, and was appointed chief constable six years later in 2018.

He was also awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2018.

 

You can only take funding away for so long"

 

When asked how policing has changed since 1992, Mr Vaughan said: “Technology is arguably the biggest change. When I joined in ‘92, desktop computers weren’t used for anything other than word processors. 

“The shift to the digital world would have been unimaginable back then but you learn to adapt.

“Now, all these years later, I find myself the lead for the national forensics capability programme.”

Throughout his time with the police, Mr Vaughan also dealt with a number of challenges.

He said: “There was a period in recent years where a shrink in workforce coupled with a rise in crime was easily the biggest challenge. You can only take funding away for so long before you see a huge strain on officers which puts their health at risk.

“We had to improve resourcing which is why we lobbied to Number 10 for massive policing investment. We went from being 16th on the public’s list of institutions requiring funding to second behind the NHS.”

Mr Vaughan also said that recent Black Lives Matter protests and the enforcement of Covid regulations had presented the force with previously unchartered territory in terms of handling and engagement.

 

We sit in the top quartile alongside doctors and judges."

 

Looking to the future, the 53-year-old will remain in policing for two months as he hands over several duties, but he now looks forward to more time with his wife and two teenage children.

He will also maintain heavy involvement in various conservation charities and his work as a school governor. 

He said: “I can say with immense pride that I leave this force with a three-year fall in crime, a massive improvement in officer welfare and a strong increase in funding.”

He has been succeeded as chief constable by Scott Chilton, to whom Mr Vaughan wished the “greatest success”.

Mr Vaughan believes that Chief Constable Chilton’s biggest challenges will be leading the force through the rest of the Covid pandemic as well as dealing with an increase in domestic and child abuse.

He added: “Trust and confidence in the police is much higher now than when I started. We sit in the top quartile alongside doctors and judges.

"I want to say a big thank you to all my colleagues across my 30 years in all three forces and also to the public, who have given me incredible support which has helped my tenure be such a success.”