Dr John Godfrey
Chief Executive

John Godfrey has lived and worked in Sussex for more than 30 years, having originally come to the county as an undergraduate at the University of Sussex in the 1960s.

He has a BA and an MA in Politics and is a Doctor of Philosophy in Historical Geography, based on research on the landscape and agriculture of the South Downs. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a Fellow of Chartered Management Institute and lectures and writes on Sussex history.

John was appointed as the Police Authority’s first full-time Clerk in 2003. He has worked to raise the profile of the Police Authority with key stakeholders, as well as reviewing arrangements for overseeing the Force’s performance management. John's title was changed to Chief Executive on 1st April 2007, following changes brought about by the Police and Justice Act 2006.

John previously worked as Head of West Sussex County Council’s Secretariat, a post he held since 1998. As Chief Executive of the Police Authority, he relishes the challenge of being involved with the strategic management of one of the country’s fastest improving police services, in an area which he knows and loves.

Contact details: john.godfrey@sussexpa.gov.uk

Responsibility for policing Sussex is shared between the Home Secretary, the Chief Constable and Sussex Police Authority.