Assistant Commissioner Sutherland joined the Metropolitan Police

Service in 1986 and served in operational roles in Hounslow and

Kensington spending time in uniform roles and within crime squads

tackling burglary, robbery and drugs supply. As an Inspector he

worked at Notting Hill and again at Hounslow leading uniform

teams in both Neighbourhood Policing, Emergency response, as

well as performing a staff office role.

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As a Chief Inspector he served at Lambeth Borough inSouth

Londonin  charge of policing operations to deal with emergency

response, neighbourhoods, partnership and crime reduction. In

2004, he began to serve as one of the Met’s senior officer cadre

in charge of policing major public order events across London

including sporting and ceremonial events, demonstrations and the

annual Notting Hill Carnival.

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On promotion to Superintendent and subsequently Chief Superintendent he was asked to remain within Lambeth Borough having forged excellent community and partnership links with the diverse communities around Brixton, Kennington and Streatham and was successful in continually driving down crime and anti social behaviour during a five and a half year tenure.

In 2009 he was asked to set up a new unit that would take responsibility for the command and control of police firearms operations following the publication of recommendations from the Stockwell Inquiry into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.  Subsequent to this posting he took charge of SCO19 Specialist Firearms Unit for a three year period. During this time he took on significant command roles at high profile public events including commanding the firearms security and response at the Royal Wedding 2011 and the London 2012 Olympic Games.

He was promoted to Commander in July 2014 and took on the role of Commander for Royalty, Diplomatic and Specialist Protection. He is currently one of a small number of nationally qualified Counter Terrorism commanders and is co-Director of the Counter Terrorism Commanders course. 

In April 2016, he joined the City of London Police upon his promotion to Assistant Commissioner, he is married with a son and daughter and he lives in South West London.