Profile
Joy Allen is working at the heart of democracy to tackle the issues that threaten public safety and undermine community life. Elected as Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham in May 2021, and re-elected in 2024, the PCC has since taken on a series of key national responsibilities to advocate for policing change. Joy holds the title of Joint Lead for Addictions and Substance Misuse, Roads Policing and Transport, Finance, and Environment and Sustainability, on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners. She is also co-chair of the National Drugs Leadership Forum, responsible for tracking the progress of drug strategy priorities across England and Wales, and a Board Member of the national Victims’ Commissioner Advisory Group 2024-25, supporting the work of Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, to improve the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system. In further strategic roles, Joy is Chair of the BlueLight Commercial Board and has contributed to the development of the policing decarbonisation programme for policing in England and Wales, alongside promoting Social Value principles across the policing landscape. She is also a Board member on the North East Business Resilience Centre, working in partnership with the sector as part of a determined effort to protect businesses from the risks of online fraud Joy has spent most of her career in the public sector, previously working for Durham Constabulary, Sedgefield Borough Council, Middlesbrough Council and County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service as Head of Service and Area Manager for Community Safety.
25th January 2026