Temporary Assistant Chief Constable Leona Scurr

Leona Scurr has lived in Nottinghamshire all her life and attended school in the city. Her parents were also in the emergency services, serving as a nurse and a firefighter. She did not always intend to join the police service or stay for so long, but thirty years on she is now the temporary Assistant Chief Constable for Crime, Criminal Justice and Custody.

Leona’s original plan was to become a forensic scientist, and she went on to study at university. It was at a university careers fair that she saw a stand for the police graduate entry scheme and asked for the opportunity to shadow the police.

After a few fascinating night shifts on patrol, she decided on a career change. Leona said:

“I would encourage anyone to attend our open days or seek out an opportunity to find out more about the range of roles policing offers.”

After graduating, Leona joined Nottinghamshire Police through the standard entry scheme, starting out as a response officer at Radford Road and Broxtowe.

Leona was always interested in the more complex investigations that her colleagues in CID were undertaking and would ask to help where she could. She passed her National Investigators Exam and joined CID in 2000.

Leona then completed a variety of roles in CID and was promoted to Detective Sergeant before taking a career break with her husband, who is also a serving officer, to go travelling between 2005 and 2006.

On returning to work Leona started a family and now has two teenage children. She has continued to work full time and has been promoted through the ranks in a diverse range of roles. Leona said:

“In the early days of having a young family it was challenging juggling childcare and shifts but we made it work. I learnt that work ethic from my parents. I have also benefitted from extremely supportive line managers and the flexible working arrangements Nottinghamshire Police can offer.”

Leona has undertaken roles as the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Nottingham City Centre, Detective Chief Inspector for serious and complex crime, Head of Professional Standards & Counter Corruption, Director of Intelligence and Head of Crime.

Leona is a recently qualified Strategic Firearms Commander and will soon become qualified as a Public Order Gold Commander.