Welcome to the Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner’s 2026 Annual Conference
BJ Harrington QPM, Chief Constable, Essex Police
Ben-Julian “BJ” Harrington QPM is the Chief Constable of Essex Police, a role he has held since October 2018. He began his policing career with the Metropolitan Police Service in 1990, gaining extensive operational experience across London. Rising through the ranks in a variety of roles – from frontline response and specialist public order policing with the Territorial Support Group to overseeing major events like the Notting Hill Carnival and the London 2012 Olympics – he ultimately became Commander for Public Order in London and also served as a National Counter Terrorism Commander.
In 2017, Mr Harrington was seconded to Essex Police as Deputy Chief Constable and took up the Chief Constable position the following year. Utilising his wealth of experience, he has focused on building community confidence, modernising policing (including new technology and equipment) and promoting diversity, equality and inclusion. Under his leadership, Essex Police launched the acclaimed “We Value Difference” recruitment campaign. BJ has navigated major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess MP and other high-profile incidents.
Nationally, BJ chairs the NPCC Operations Coordination Committee and leads on Joint Emergency Services Interoperability (JESIP). He holds postgraduate qualifications in police leadership and in 2022 was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service.
BJ is married to a former police officer, has two teenage daughters and an annoying Spaniel.
Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer, Essex Fire and Rescue Service
Rick joined Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in 2019 as Deputy Chief Fire Officer. He had responsibilities for strategic planning, assurance and performance and was the strategic lead for collaboration, working with partners to deliver on the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner’s local business case.
In January 2022, Rick became Chief Fire Officer and Chief Executive for the Service.
Since 2022, Rick has focussed the Service on ensuring it is best delivering the needs of local communities, creating a working environment to help people be successful, as well as building the capacity and capability of the Service for the future. During that time, the Service has increased the amount of prevention work it carries out, has rebuilt the capacity needed within its fire protection department and invested in training and technology to ensure it is best placed to support its people in meeting the changing risks and needs of its local communities.
In 2024, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service received a gold award from the Public Sector Transformation Awards and received a silver award from Inclusive Employers –at the time, the highest award achieved by a fire and rescue service.
Rick is the chair of the Essex Resilience Forum and co-led the Strategic Coordination Group throughout the pandemic. He also led the National Fire Chief Council Home Safety Committee from 2015 and in 2023 became the NFCC Prevention Committee Chair. In 2025 he became the Vice Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.
Rick has a master’s in public administration from Warwick University. He is married with two children and a frequently frustrated Sunderland FC fan.
Creative Lives
Jess Plant
Jess is Policy Director at Creative Lives, having joined in 2020 to lead the Creative Lives On Air programme in partnership with BBC local radio. She has since driven place-based work across the UK, building partnerships with local authorities and cultural organisations to champion volunteer-led creativity. Previously, Jess was Director of the National Alliance for Arts in Criminal Justice at Clinks, where she secured Arts Council England National Portfolio status and led a major research project with the University of Cambridge. She has held trustee roles and consistently worked to expand creative opportunities for socially excluded groups, alongside extensive experience in fundraising, leadership and sector guidance.
Dr Natasha Richards-Crisp
Natasha is an arts practitioner, educator and researcher with over 15 years’ experience across the arts, education and creative health sectors. Alongside completing an AHRC-funded PhD in Theatre at the University of Essex, she has led collaborative projects regionally, nationally and internationally. Natasha works across higher education, local government, health and cultural sectors, specialising in partnership-building, facilitation and participatory research. Her work uses creativity to support social change, health and wellbeing. She has extensive experience convening stakeholders, leading training and engagement programmes, and creating inclusive spaces. Natasha is passionate about strengthening creative health infrastructure in Essex through sustainable partnerships, research and education.
Dr Katrina Wickes, Local Authority Commissioner and Researcher
Katrina holds a PhD in Criminology, with research exploring victims’ experiences of services commissioned by Police and Crime Commissioners. She currently leads strategic commissioning and policy development for domestic abuse in Southend, focusing on multi-agency collaboration and survivor-centred approaches.
Katrina is recognised for translating national policy into effective local delivery and for championing trauma-informed systems change across partnerships.
Cath Pickles - Founder ‘Restitute'
Restitute was founded by Cath Pickles, a mum and herself a 3rd party victim of crime.
Cath’s daughter was sexually abused between the ages of 9 and 12, but it was not until many years later—following serious mental health difficulties and significant behavioural challenges—that she felt able to disclose what had happened. By the age of 14, the family knew something was seriously wrong and suspected sexual abuse. It was not until she was 15 that the full extent of the abuse became known.
Cath and her family struggled to understand her behaviour, to find appropriate support, and to navigate complex multi-agency involvement, often feeling that communication between services was fragmented and unclear.
In response, she founded Restitute to share the knowledge and experience they had gained, and to offer practical, solution-focused support to others in similar situations. She is committed to ensuring that those caring in highly complex and traumatic circumstances feel seen, respected and supported. Recognising the isolation, stigma, guilt and shame that often accompany such experiences, she aims to make it easier for others to seek and receive help. Restitute exists to change that.
Professionally, Cath has worked as a teacher, a senior manager in a county council, and served for four years as a district councillor. Alongside leading Restitute, she is an experienced public speaker, trainer and project manager.
Essex Council for Voluntary Youth Services (ECVYS) and Epping Forest Youth Council
ECVYS has been around for 50 years and are an independent Charity with a passionate and strong voice for the voluntary youth sector in Essex. They aim to support, network and resource the voluntary youth sector whilst building links and possibilities with statutory services that wish to engage with the sector.
ECVYS believes that the voluntary youth sector has an important role to play in the life and education of our young people and seek to enable these services to be the very best that they can be.
ECVYS members run around 7,000 groups, with over 300,000 opportunities for children & young people to take part. These groups also support over 42,864 volunteers!
Ruth Kigozi EFDC
Ruth is dedicated to creating positive change for young people across Epping Forest, drawing on her experiences within a diverse community. She is passionate about expanding youth political education and encouraging greater engagement, particularly among young people interested in shaping their future. Ruth brings a fresh perspective to the Youth Council, with a strong commitment to increasing diversity, innovation, and meaningful representation.
Alexia Karras EFYC
Alexia Karras is a passionate advocate for amplifying young people’s voices through the Epping Forest Youth Council. She is committed to improving student wellbeing during high-pressure academic periods, promoting a healthy balance between success and mental health. Alexia champions peer-led support initiatives and is dedicated to tackling bullying and discrimination, ensuring every young person feels safe, heard, and supported in school and their community.
Kai Dixon EYFC
Kai is committed to empowering young people to have a meaningful voice on the issues that matter most, including the cost-of-living crisis and community safety. He is passionate about helping peers develop confidence, social skills, and the ability to debate and express their views. Kai also aims to raise awareness of financial challenges facing families and is dedicated to making a positive difference in his community
Nick Cook, Director of Young People’s Services, The Children’s Society
Nick is the Director of Young People’s Services at The Children’s Society, where he leads the charity’s local, regional and national services and programmes — including all work delivered across Essex. He oversees a wide portfolio of support for young people, with a significant focus on supporting young people's emotional wellbeing and young people affected by child exploitation, county lines and other forms of abuse and harm.
With a deep commitment to social change, Nick is driven by innovation, systems-thinking and the belief that young people should receive help at the earliest possible moment. He has spent 15 years working in the Voluntary and Community Sector, following an early career in local government, and brings extensive experience in service design, partnership working and strategic leadership.
