Chief Superintendent Coretta Hine
Where did you start your police service career?
I started my policing career with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in April 1991. My first posting was the London Borough of Plumstead, where I spent 8 years as a response officer before moving into the Domestic Violence Unit (DVU).
Throughout my career I have worked in a number of challenging and interesting environments such as; Professional Standards Department; Recruit Training and Community Engagement and Inclusion. One of my proudest moments was setting up the Discrimination Investigation Unit - this was the first and only unit internationally, dedicated to investigating allegations of discrimination against the police made by the public and internal conduct matters.
Following my work with the Discrimination Investigation Unit I was asked to join the Crime Prevention, Inclusion and Engagement Team, dedicated to building relationships and partnership working at a strategic level. I later became the Metropolitan Police Service lead for inclusion working to improve representation, progression and retention of under-represented groups.
What inspired your current career path?
My posting to the Domestic Violence Unit ignited my passion for public protection, and I’ve devoted most of my career to this field - working in all areas of public protection at every rank. Joining Kent Police in March 2019 on promotion to Superintendent and being made Deputy Head of the Protecting Vulnerable People and Partnerships Command enabled me to utilise my skills, knowledge and experience to continue this important work.
What are some of your key achievements?
I have a passion for developing and supporting staff and have worked in recruit training, where I learnt coaching, mentoring, facilitation, Dyslexia support and Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP). I went on to gain qualifications in Life Coaching, NLP and Managing Diversity. I have spent many years supporting, mentoring and developing staff at all ranks and grades.
I was selected for the High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) after 20 years of service. The HPDS was a 5 year national scheme designed to use a range of innovative approaches to challenge and equip future senior leaders.
In 2017 I graduated from Warwick University - having successfully completed an MSc in Police Leadership and Management. Completing my master’s degree, was a great achievement and has provided me with a great foundation for strategic management and leadership.
I became a Girl Guiding Volunteer because I wanted to give something back to the community. I became a unit leader setting up a local Rainbows unit for girls aged 5 - 7 years old. This provided the opportunity for young girls to experience Girl Guiding at a young age, who would have missed out due to the lack of volunteers.
Joining Kent Police on promotion to Superintendent was a major personal achievement. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, my appointment was of great significance as I was the first most senior black female in the history of Kent Police. Since joining Kent Police, I have been an active member of the Kent Race Equality Network (REN), Enable - the disability staff support association and Kent Network of Women (KNOW). I am pleased to have the opportunity to use my skills, knowledge and lived experiences to help transform the Diversity and Equality agenda.
Chief Superintendent Hine’s postings have included working with:
- CID
- Juvenile Referral Unit
- Predatory Offenders Unit (online sexual offenders)
- High tech crime unit
- Every Child Matters
- Public Protection (domestic abuse and hate crime)
- Missing Persons Unit
- Vulnerable adults
- Sapphire (Serious Sexual Offences)
- Child Abuse Investigation Team (CAIT) and
- Monitoring sex offenders.
Responsibilities include:
- Chair of the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conference
- Sudden Unexplained Death in Infants MPS national lead
- High Potential Development Scheme (HPDS) Black and ethnic minorities talent scout