Cannock's new area commander brings a wealth of experience leading investigations

Cannock’s new area commander has a wealth of experience leading major crime investigations and ensuring high standards from officers.

Chief Inspector Victoria Downing begins her new role on Monday (June 21) and is excited about serving as area commander for Cannock Chase District.

She follows in the footsteps of Chief Inspector Becky Hyde, who recently retired.

“I’m privileged to take over from Becky as she did such a good job and was well liked and respected. I’ll be looking to build on that good work and, in particular, use my skills and knowledge of investigations and understanding vulnerability.”

Victoria joined Staffordshire Police in 1998 after studying for a degree in politics. She swiftly joined the investigations team and worked on major cases including a child abduction in Barton-under-Needwood.

She worked as a detective constable and then detective sergeant in the Child Protection Unit (CPU) and then investigated adult rape and serious sexual assault cases.

Victoria served as an inspector in Professional Standards in 2015, before working on homicides and manslaughters for the Major Investigations Department. She worked as the deputy head of Professional Standards before taking up her new post in Cannock.

“I always had a desire to join the police. I wanted to serve the public and help others.  Through school, when studying GCSEs and A-levels and then onto university it was always on my mind.”

After a short stint where she worked as a hydro-therapist and also sold kitchens she decided to join up.

“I’ve experienced so much and learned so much and loved being a police officer. This is an exciting new challenge I’m going to relish.

“I’ll be out and about as much as I can and bringing my experience of investigating major crimes, and working with victims, to Cannock.

“I’m fair minded but I expect high standards and the public rightly expects them too. I’m going to be doing a lot of listening to allow me to focus our resource where they’re needed most.”

“Policing has changed a great deal during my service but so has society. We’ve seen significant changes in crime types and my background and experience in understanding vulnerability is going to be very useful.”

Victoria relaxes by reading, spending time with her family and running. She says that after many years in investigations the uniform felt a little unfamiliar at first.

“It felt different at first but it reminds me I’m proud and privileged to do this job and I’m looking forward to serving the communities of Cannock, Hednesford, Rugeley, and surrounding areas.”