Leadership team

Chief Constable Chris Noble has been a police officer for more than 25 years, joining the Royal Ulster Constabulary after he graduated from Queens University Belfast with an honours degree in Law.

He has three children, aged 22, 19 and 16, who live in Northern Ireland.

Chris has worked in a variety of roles across policing and has held a number of key leadership positions in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in a mission to protect and serve the communities of Northern Ireland.

He was the Commander for Belfast City Policing District, leading more than 1000 staff with responsibility for overt counter-terrorism policing, local response and neighbourhood policing, and public order and civil contingencies. Chris was also service lead for evidence based policing, business crime and engagement and the operational lead for wellbeing.

In March 2014 Chris passed the Strategic Command Course and became temporary Assistant Chief Constable at PSNI, focused on service improvement. Chris then moved to Humberside Police in 2017 to become Assistant Chief Constable, responsible for crime, contact and specialist operations.

Chris was appointed as Chief Constable for Staffordshire Police in December 2021.

Nationally, Chris is the NPCC lead for protests and has most recently supported several police forces on how to manage and police the ongoing Insulate Britain protests.

Chris is an experienced Gold and Silver Public Order Commander, a Strategic Firearms Commander, a Security Coordinator and is a previous Head of the PSNI Close Protection Unit.

In 2013 he was awarded a Masters in Police Leadership and Applied Criminology by Cambridge University, and is a member of the Charted Management Institute and the Institute of Directors.

Emma became Deputy Chief Constable on 1st August 2020 and now leads the Directorate which includes: Corporate Communications, Professional Standards Department, Corporate Planning and Business Change and Information Assurance.

Emma became a police officer in 1993 when she joined West Midlands Police after obtaining a degree in Geography from the University of Oxford. In 2005, Emma achieved an MSc in HR and Business from Aston Business School. During her career with West Midlands Police Emma undertook a range of roles within local policing plus Staff Officer, Senior Investigating Officer, leading the Force Change Programme and finally as Chief Superintendent led one of the largest policing units in the country, Birmingham West & Central.

After completing the Strategic Command Course in 2016, Emma was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable here at Staffordshire Police. She had responsibility for the Investigations Directorate including Serious & Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, CID, Major and Specialist investigations and Forensics, and also the Operational Support Directorate which includes Intelligence and Knowledge Hub, Criminal Justice and Operations.

Emma is a Strategic Firearms Commander and Gold Public Order Commander and has led the force response to moving to critical status after terrorist attacks in 2017, as well as to the Covid 19 pandemic. She is a strong supporter of women in policing which was formally recognised whilst in West Midlands Police and continues with her support to the Staffordshire Association of Women in Policing.

Emma is also the NPCC lead for Victims and Witnesses, writing the national strategy in 2019.

Justin started his policing career with Cumbria Constabulary and progressed through the ranks undertaking a number of roles including as an area commander and as temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Operations, and Crime and Safeguarding. He was the constabulary lead for victims and witnesses and diversity, equality and inclusion.

He is an experienced strategic commander across firearms, CBRN(E) and public order/public safety. He also has extensive experience managing major and critical incidents and is a qualified Multi-Agency Gold Incident Commander.

He completed the national Strategic Command Course in March 2020 and joined Staffordshire Police on 3 August 2020.

Jennie Mattinson has had a career in policing for 20 years, starting in June 2001 as a Police Constable in West Mercia police. In her early career she spent time within response, neighbourhood and CID. In 2009 Jennie successfully gained a place on the High Potential Development Scheme and has since completed an MSc in Police Leadership and Management. In March 2018 Jennie joined Staffordshire Police as a Superintendent.

She is an experienced Strategic Firearms Commander and CBRN Gold commander. Jennie was made temporary ACC in September 2021 where she leads the force in Neighbourhoods and Partnerships and Contact and Response.

John joined the Force in March 2018 as Chief Finance Officer (and Section 151 Officer), and since September 2022 is the Assistant Chief Officer for Resources which covers:

• People and Organisational Development
• Finance and Commercial Services
• IT & Technology
• Estates
• Transport
• Project Management Office

John began his career in Finance at Staffordshire County Council, having graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in History, progressing from trainee accountant to Senior Finance Business Partner, before moving to work for Cornwall Council for a number of years. Before joining Staffordshire Police John briefly worked in the NHS. John is a member of CIPFA Council and CIPFA’s Public Financial Management Board, a member of the NPCC finance coordination committee as well as being a school governor.

During his time at Staffordshire John has led the transformation of the Forces finance function and overall financial position, with Staffordshire Police now being one of the most financially resilient forces in the United Kingdom as well as being awarded a national public finance award in 2020. John is passionate about the development of future talent across the organisation as well as giving officers and staff the tools to deliver on behalf of the residents of Staffordshire.