SUZANNE CHOW HAS THE KNOW-HOW TO KEEP AYRSHIRE SAFE

Chief Superintendent Suzanne Chow is the Divisional Commander for Ayrshire, overseeing policing across East, North, and South Ayrshire. She leads strategic priorities such as violence reduction, antisocial behaviour, road safety, and tackling alcohol and drug‑related harm. 

Appointed in late 2024, Chow, who is partly Chinese, brings more than two decades of investigative and operational leadership to the role. She began her career with Strathclyde Police around 2000, first serving in uniformed roles in Pollok and Govan. Her move into the Criminal Investigation Department shaped the direction of her career, exposing her to complex investigations and proactive crime teams.

Chow progressed to detective sergeant and, in 2012, joined Major Investigations—a turning point she has described as transformative. She later worked in homicide governance and review, overseeing undetected cases and high‑risk missing‑person inquiries. Her expertise led to senior roles including detective superintendent in Renfrewshire and Inverclyde.

Before arriving in Ayrshire, Chow served nationally as Head of Crime for Police Scotland, a role with responsibility for major crime strategy, investigative standards, and specialist capabilities. After 18 months, she sought a return to divisional command to apply national‑level insight to local policing.

As Ayrshire’s commander, Chow emphasises data‑driven deployment, using analytical insight to target harm hotspots (you know who you are) and improve community outcomes. She has been open about resource pressures but argues that smarter working and national‑local coordination can maintain service quality.

A strong advocate for modernisation, she has championed body‑worn cameras, highlighting their value in evidence gathering, reducing court time, and increasing public confidence.

Chow’s leadership blends operational pragmatism with a community‑first ethos. She regularly praises officers and the public for their support during major events such as the Royal Troon Open and the International Ayr Show, underscoring her commitment to visible, trusted policing across Ayrshire.