Colin Sutton was due to tour theatres next year with a live show called The Makings Of A Murderer – Double Jeopardy
Reform UK’s first police and crime commissioner (PCC) has scrapped plans for a nationwide theatre tour with more than 100 dates next year, following a wave of public criticism. The tour was set to include four London dates at The Churchill Theatre, Bromley, Richmond theatre, Fairfield Halls, Croydon, and The Beck Theatre in Hayes.
Colin Sutton, who was elected as Norfolk’s PCC in July, had been scheduled to embark on a UK-wide live show entitled The Makings Of A Murderer – Double Jeopardy.
Tour promoters had advertised 130 dates across 11 months of next year, with Mr Sutton initially standing his ground, questioning: “Am I not entitled to spend my spare time as I wish?”
The former Metropolitan Police detective had maintained he would only be “incommunicado” for two-hour slots while performing on stage, insisting it “would not impinge on my duties as PCC”.
However, on Wednesday (September 16), he informed a gathering of North Norfolk District Council’s scrutiny committee that he had resolved to abandon the tour, according to the BBC.
Addressing councillors, he stated: “What surprised me and what made me reflect and think again was the reaction that I got personally from a number of residents. I’m not sure I could do 127 dates because it was ridiculous, but I could have done some.”
He added: “What I don’t want to do is to give the impression to anybody that I don’t take this role seriously and I’m not going to do a good job on this. So, that’s why my decision has been: ‘OK, I’m not legally obliged to do this, I’m not going to do it’.”
Mr Sutton, who served as a police officer for 30 years, led the investigation that brought serial killer Levi Bellfield to justice. The Government announced last year that the role of police and crime commissioner will be scrapped in 2028 when the next nationwide elections are set to be held to save at least £100 million.
Mr Sutton said in a statement: “I had hoped to conduct a theatre tour in 2027. Having checked with senior members of the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner team that this was feasible, I relayed this opinion to my promoter.”
He added: “In September, the promoter announced the tour using social media posts, which listed all the planned engagements, the number of which I underestimated. Upon reflection on the feedback from Norfolk residents and the time requirements for the role of the PCC, I have decided not to go ahead with the proposed tour.”
The statement continued: “I should make clear that The Makings Of A Murderer is an established theatre production which has been touring for a number of years. My decision relates only to my own involvement as the speaker and does not mean that the show itself has been cancelled.”
He added: “I wish everyone involved with the production every success for the future. I will continue to apply all my energies to the important task of making Norfolk Constabulary an even better police force that is responsive to its neighbourhoods.”
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