Norfolk’s police and crime commissioner, Colin Sutton, has abandoned plans to undertake a “ridiculous” 127-date national theatre tour, having reconsidered the demands of the role after fierce backlash.
Mr Sutton, who was elected as Norfolk’s PCC in July as a Reform UK candidate, had been scheduled to appear across the UK next year in The Makings of a Murderer – Double Jeopardy, a live production based on his career as a detective.
The planned tour was advertised with dates spanning 11 months, and included performances in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands.
Mr Sutton initially defended the tour, arguing that performances would take place during his free time, and would not interfere with his responsibilities as PCC.
However, speaking to North Norfolk District Council’s scrutiny committee on Wednesday, he confirmed that he had decided to withdraw from the tour.
Mr Sutton said the reaction from residents had prompted him to reassess whether undertaking the tour was appropriate while holding elected office.
“What surprised me and what made me reflect and think again was the reaction that I got personally from a number of residents,” he told councillors.
He acknowledged that completing all the advertised dates would have been unrealistic, describing 127 performances as “ridiculous”, although he believed he could have undertaken at least some of them.
Police and crime commissioner Colin Sutton cancels his ‘ridiculous’ 127 date tour across Britain with national theatre
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PA
The former Metropolitan Police detective said his priority was ensuring voters did not believe he was failing to take the PCC position seriously – a £79,000-a-year, taxpayer-funded position.
Mr Sutton later told the Eastern Daily Press that, with greater experience of the role, he had come to recognise the demands placed on his time, and said he should have reached that conclusion earlier.
“I should have been more honest with myself about how much PCC work was taking up my time,” he said.
He also said he did not blame the promoter for the controversy, although he disputed how the large number of dates had come to be advertised.
According to Mr Sutton, he had not agreed to the full schedule, and had not been contracted to undertake all of the listed performances.
The tour had been discussed with promoters before Mr Sutton’s election, with plans put on hold while he was pursuing elected office – subsequently revived after he won the PCC election.
Mr Sutton also criticised what he described as a “pile-on”, and said he believed his position as both a Reform UK politician and PCC had made him a target for the media.
He said some social media criticism had been politically motivated, but accepted responsibility for failing to withdraw sooner.
Colin Sutton said some social media criticism had been politically motivated, but accepted responsibility for failing to withdraw sooner
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FACEBOOK/ @ColinSutton
A spokesman from Entertainers, the promoter of the show, said: “Entertainers is hugely supportive of Colin Sutton and his decades of professional police work.
“Colin is widely regarded as one of the UK’s greatest living detectives, and following the success of his previous appearances, he was invited back to The Makings of a Murderer due to popular demand.
“Through our recent discussions with Colin, it has become clear that he had underestimated the overall demands of the forthcoming tour alongside his other professional commitments.
“What has also been abundantly clear throughout those conversations is how seriously Colin takes his responsibilities to the people of Norfolk, and how deeply committed he is to serving them.
“We are now working closely with Colin to find a route forward and those discussions are ongoing. At this stage, there is little more we can appropriately add.”
Mr Sutton, who spent 30 years in policing and led the investigation that secured the conviction of serial killer Levi Bellfield, has previously taken part in theatre tours discussing his police career.
The PCC role is due to be abolished in 2028 under Government plans to reform local policing structures, with ministers estimating the change could save at least £100 million.