Norfolk Police and Crime Commissioner Colin Sutton is considering canceling or drastically reducing a massive 127-date speaking tour scheduled for 2027.. The proposed tour, titled "The Makings of a Murderer - Double Jeopardy," has drawn sharp criticism from politicians and residents who argue the itinerary conflicts with his primary policing duties.
The 127-date itinerary comparable to Taylor Swift
The scale of the proposed speaking tour has drawn immediate comparisons to major global entertainment events. As the report states, the sheer volume of the 127 performances is comparable to Taylor Swift's 149-show tour conducted during 2023-24. The itinerary would have required Sutton to travel across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Channel Islands, moving between theaters almost every single day.
While Sutton has suggested that the tour could be restricted to local Norfolk venues to minimize travel, the logistical demands remain a point of contention. The tour was intended to include various meetings with local police associations and PCC panels , but critics fear these would be secondary to the entertainment aspect of the event.
A "slap in the face" for the £79,000 taxpayer-funded role
Political leaders have expressed intense concern that the tour could undermine the seriousness of the Police and Crime Commissioner position. Shadow policing minister Matt Vickers described the venture as "a slap in the face" for taxpayers, accusing Sutton of potentially neglecting the job for which he receives an annual salary of £79,000. This sentiment was echoed by Liberal Democrat MP Steff Aquarone and Conservative MP Rupert Lowe,both of whom questioned if the role was being treated with appropriate gravity.
The controversy centers on the core responsibilities of the Norfolk PCC, which include setting policing strategies, managing budgets, and ensuring public safety. According to the source, the concern is that a relentless schedule of theatrical performances would leave Sutton with insufficient capacity to oversee the Norfolk Constabulary effectively.
From catching Levi Bellfield to the thaetre stage
Sutton's professional history as a high-profile detective provides a unique backdrop to this current controversy. Before becoming the elected head of Norfolk Constabulary, he served as a Metropolitan Police detective chief inspector, where he was involved in major operations such as the capture of serial killer Levi Bellfield and rapist Delroy Grant.
This background in high-stakes criminal investigation is what makes the proposed "The Makings of a Murderer" tour so polarizing. While his expertise is clearly marketable, the transition from solving serious cries to performing on a stage has created a tension between his past career and his current mandate to serve the public interest through governance and oversight.
The debate over whether Sutton misled voters during his campaign
The timing of the tour announcement has led to significant questions regarding political transparency and voter disclosure. Former Norfolk County Council leader Kay Mason Billig has accused Sutton of misleading the public, noting that theater bookings are typically made well in advance and should have been disclosed before the election. This raises several unanswered questions: Did the campaign team intentionally omit these plans to avoid scrutiny? And if the tour is curtailed to local venues, will the revenue from £40 tickets be viewed as a legitimate public engagement tool or a secondary commercial interest?
While Reform Party spokesman David Bick defended the commissioner, stating the tour had been discussed at the start of the campaign, the lack of widespread public knowledge remains a central point of the backlash. Whether Sutton can successfully pivot back to a focus on policing or if the controversy will trigger a wider review of the PCC role remains to be seen.
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