ERSOU appoints new Assistant Chief Constable

A new Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) has been appointed to lead the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU), the policing unit responsible for tackling the threat of serious and organised crime and terrorism in Eastern England.

ACC Adam Ball on Monday (2 May) took over responsibility for ERSOU’s Regional Organised Crime Unit and Counter Terrorism Policing unit, following the retirement of ACC Simon Parkes.

Created in 2010, ERSOU operates across the seven police forces that make up the Eastern Region - Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, and Suffolk. It comprises around 850 police officers and staff, who work closely with local police forces and partner agencies to tackle a wide range of serious criminality.

ACC Ball moves to ERSOU from Kent Police, which he joined as an officer in 2005 after initially working as an intelligence analyst in the Force Intelligence Bureau and Anti-Corruption units.

He subsequently held several senior roles including as a divisional Detective Chief Inspector, and lead responsible officer positions for the force’s control room, criminal justice capability and custody department. He also has experience in working in the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, as an intelligence manager and SOC SIO.

ACC Ball said: “ERSOU is a fantastic organisation which has a respected reputation across policing, often leading the way in response to tackling organised crime and terrorism.

“I’m delighted to be joining a well-established unit of specialist officers and staff who have shown time and again that they are committed to keeping communities in eastern England safe from some of the most harmful criminality.”

“ACC Parkes has been an amazing servant to policing, leading national portfolios and operations, and serving in prominent positions in ERSOU and the region’s forces. There’s no doubt about the positive impact he’s had in the region, and I’ll be looking to build on his great work even further.”

Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst from Bedfordshire Police, which has overall responsibility for ERSOU under the ‘lead force’ model, said: “Throughout a thorough and competitive recruitment process, ACC Ball stood out as a highly skilled leader with a strong background across several areas of policing.

“We are delighted to welcome him into the ERSOU role and know his extensive experience and enthusiasm will continue to push the unit forward.”