From Special to Super - local woman heads South Devon Police

A new superintendant has been appointed to lead the local policing teams across South Devon. Claire Armes, aged 38, is one of the youngest women in Devon and Cornwall Police to secure a position as superintendent.

Claire Armes first joined the force as a special constable sixteen years ago, assisting response officers in Torbay.  “This was a fabulous opportunity as it gave me a superb insight into policing. It prepared me well for my future career," she said.

The following year, she secured the role as a police constable, working on the beat in Brixham.

A consistent career achiever, Superintendent Armes has worked her way from a PC to a sergeant in Torquay; to inspector; through to Chief Inspector of Custody; and now returning to South Devon to take up her post as superintendent.

Her other roles have included ‘Force Incident Manager’, ‘Critical Incident Manager’, ‘Head of Strategic Criminal Justice’ and more recently ‘Chief Inspector of Custody’. She is a tactical firearms commander and accredited mutual aid liaison officer.

“Every role presents its own challenges,” she said, “but being Head of Custody demanded the most resilience.

"It carries a significant amount of risk for the force and one of my key challenges was to embed ‘Safer Detention”.

She was instrumental in leading the department in preparation for an HMIC inspection, which ensured that the force custody provision was fit for purpose.

She has worked in many frontline posts across all areas of Devon and Cornwall and also out of force.

Recently returned from Northern Ireland at the G8 Summit, she held responsibility for all regional mutual aid resources from a discipline and welfare perspective.

“This was incredibly challenging as it involved operating in a sometimes hostile environment. Whilst this has been a personal career highlight, it is without doubt one of the most humbling experiences of my service,” she said.

The policing area of South Devon is a diverse mix of urban, coastal and rural areas, including Teignbridge, Torbay and the South Hams. Devon and Cornwall Police believe it demands different styles of policing, particularly during busy summer months when population numbers treble. Superintendent Armes is responsible for all policing activities in South Devon, supported by a senior team of two chief inspectors and fifteen inspectors.

“The aim for South Devon is to deliver the best possible police service to our communities. To do this we need to know if we are getting it right; how we can improve; and understand clearly the public’s expectations of us. This can only be achieved through communication and feedback”.

The police teams work closely with partner agencies and they hold regular meetings where members of the public can give feedback on policing in their area. Alternatively, they have a presence on social media sites including Facebook and Twitter, or they can be contacted on Tel 101.

“Officers under my command are clear about my expectations; honesty, hard working, courteous and to do the job to the very best of their ability. I also believe staff should be able to do this with a smile on their faces. Happy people are productive people and this is something I try to achieve and sustain wherever I work” she added.

Whilst Claire was born out of the area, she considers herself a ‘local girl’ having lived in the areas since she was 11. She attended Cuthbert Mayne School, Torquay Girls Grammar School then The College of St Mark and St John, Plymouth where she achieved a BA (Hons) degree in Social Science and Theology 2:1.

She is a member of the ‘British Association of Women in Policing’ and keen to help others achieve their potential, though mentoring and sharing her experiences. She is currently one of 24 women from across the country taking part in a ‘Releasing Potential Programme’ run by the College of Policing.

In her private time, she is the Chair of the Stoodley Parents Association and a member of the Stoodley Advisory Body. She lives in South Devon with her husband who is a front line police officer and young daughter.