Ex-Eastbourne police boss pens book on changing face of the force

A former top Eastbourne detective has penned a book on the changing face of policing in the last 60 years and whether it is better now than in years gone by.
Retired police ffcer Kevin Moore with his book SUS-180816-085723008Retired police ffcer Kevin Moore with his book SUS-180816-085723008
Retired police ffcer Kevin Moore with his book SUS-180816-085723008

Kevin Moore retired from the police service in January this year after joining Sussex Police in June 1978 at the age of 21.

During his career he worked as a beat officer in Brighton and Camber and after joining CID as a detective constable rose up the ranks to lead CID at Eastbourne and Hastings and later across Sussex as a detective chief superintendent. He also served as chief superintendent and divisional commander of Brighton taking command of numerous large-scale public order demonstrations as well as other major public safety events before taking up a position with the regional organised crime unit.

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During his service, Mr Moore gained a reputation for being an outspoken and no-nonsense leader with a determination to ensure everything the police did was designed to enhance public safety by ‘locking up the bad guys’. This included pushing the boundaries where appropriate and being ‘lawfully audacious’ whenever possible. Inevitably, during his service, he has attracted differing views on his leadership style and general approach to policing, both internally and externally, and many are covered within the book.

However, he would argue he has always attempted to operate for the greater good of the public, never losing sight of the purpose of policing and the long-standing definition of a constable and determined to see that things were done in the right way or, as in the title of his book, My Way.

Mr Moore, married to wife Ann for more than 40 years and with two grown up children and five grandchildren, says he has witnessed many changes to policing in his time.

He said, “This book is a personal reflection on the changing face of policing and police leadership style over the past 60 years. Its purpose is to challenge the reader to achieve a greater understanding of how and why approaches have changed and how this has affected decision-making by operational leaders. It will hopefully provoke some thought as to what has influenced this, and whether this has been to the benefit or detriment of the police service.”

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The book is on sale now through Amazon at £9.99 with profits going to the police charity Care of Police Survivors.

Crime writer Peter James described Mr Moore as one of the very finest and most respected police officers.