Derbyshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention across the county of Derbyshire and the city of Derby.
Current Force Leadership
Simon Blatchly OBE became Acting Chief Constable of Derbyshire Constabulary in May 2026, following the retirement of Rachel Swann, who had led the force since August 2020. Blatchly had served as Deputy Chief Constable since 2022 and previously spent most of his career with Northamptonshire Police, based on details from Erewash Sound. The Police and Crime Panel approved plans to keep Blatchly in place until a permanent Chief Constable is confirmed, which is expected in early 2027, according to Ilkeston Life.
Police And Crime Commissioner Oversight
Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts serves as the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, an elected role created in November 2012 that replaced the former Derbyshire Police Authority. The Commissioner holds the Chief Constable to account through a scrutiny programme, with six formal reviews held each year covering different policing priorities, as explained by the Office of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Hotspot Patrols And Anti Social Behaviour
Derbyshire Constabulary runs Operation Shango, a targeted patrol scheme first launched in July 2023 to reduce anti social behaviour in high risk areas. Between April 2025 and March 2026, officers carried out 7,101 extra hotspot patrols, totalling more than 18,000 officer hours, resulting in 299 arrests and 275 stop searches. These patrols are now becoming a standard part of daily policing, supported by a mobile app called Visibeat that helps officers log activity and target high risk locations, according to Derbyshire Constabulary.
Tackling Serious Violence And Knife Crime
Serious violence, including violence against women and girls, is listed as the top priority in the Commissioner’s Police and Crime Plan. Over half of residents ranked this issue among their top three concerns in the Commissioner’s first major public consultation. In July 2026, a new weapon surrender bin was installed in Derby as part of efforts to reduce knife crime, based on updates from the Office of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
Community Funded Crime Prevention Projects
The Commissioner’s Safer and Stronger Communities Fund supports local charities and community groups working on crime prevention. In one recent example, funding was provided to a farming support charity in Bakewell to run safety workshops for rural residents, covering topics such as security audits, livestock protection, and firearms awareness, according to Derbyshire Constabulary.
Everyday Crime Prevention Advice
Derbyshire Constabulary publishes practical safety advice covering home security, personal safety, business premises, and vehicle theft prevention. This guidance ranges from basic tips to more detailed strategies for residents and business owners, based on the force’s own published resources at Derbyshire Constabulary.
FAQ: “Derbyshire Constabulary | Policing & Crime Prevention Across Derbyshire”
Q: What is Derbyshire Constabulary?
Derbyshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement and crime prevention across the county of Derbyshire, England. It provides frontline policing, emergency response, criminal investigation, and community safety services to residents and visitors throughout the county.
Q: What area does Derbyshire Constabulary cover?
The force covers the entire county of Derbyshire, including the city of Derby, as well as towns such as Chesterfield, Ilkeston, Swadlincote, and the Peak District’s rural communities.
Q: Who leads Derbyshire Constabulary?
As of 2026, Simon Blatchly OBE serves as Acting Chief Constable, having been appointed by Derbyshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner following the retirement of Rachel Swann, who had led the force since August 2020. Blatchly previously served as Deputy Chief Constable for Derbyshire Constabulary since 2022.
Q: Who oversees Derbyshire Constabulary’s policing priorities?
The Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner is an elected official responsible for setting out how crime is tackled by the force. The current Police and Crime Commissioner is Nicolle Ndiweni, in office since 9 May 2024.
Q: What services does Derbyshire Constabulary provide?
The force handles emergency response (999) and non-emergency reporting (101), crime investigation, community policing, road safety, safeguarding vulnerable people, and crime prevention initiatives across neighbourhoods in the county.
