Sutherland’s career in policing spans almost 40 years, with service across the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police (CoLP), and British Transport Police. He began his career in 1986 and progressed through a range of operational and leadership roles, including responsibility for crime reduction initiatives in burglary, robbery, and drug enforcement in West London. He held senior ranks including Chief Inspector, Superintendent, and Chief Superintendent, during which time he led public order operations and commanded major events such as Notting Hill Carnival, Royal Weddings, and the London 2012 Olympics.
Promoted to Commander in 2014, he assumed responsibility for Royalty and Specialist Protection, where he oversaw key policy and operational developments. His national portfolios have included leading on matters related to the private security industry and serving as Course Director for the national Counter Terrorism Command Course.
In 2016, Sutherland joined the City of London Police as Assistant Commissioner with oversight of fraud, cybercrime, operations, and strategic planning. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2018. From 2021, he served as Deputy Chief Constable of the British Transport Police, leading work on organisational transformation, cyber and information security, professional standards, audit, and risk management. He also directed the implementation of recommendations from the Manchester Arena public inquiry. He is noted as the only modern-era Chief Officer to have served in all three London policing forces.
CEO Neill Catton commented: “We are delighted to welcome Alistair Sutherland as our Client Relationship Director. With a distinguished career in policing, including leadership roles across the Metropolitan Police, City of London Police, and British Transport Police, Alistair brings a wealth of experience in strategic operations, high-level decision-making, and building trusted relationships. His extensive background in leading complex teams and driving impactful results will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our customer partnerships and deliver exceptional service.”
Alistair Sutherland stated: “After a fantastic 39-year Police career across three forces, I am delighted to be joining CIS Security, the UK’s premier private security company as their Client Relationship Director. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity to be part of the team and to help deliver on the company’s future business plans. CIS’s reputation for professionalism and excellence within the industry is well known and was a big attraction to me — as is their investment and focus on their people. I am very much looking forward to meeting our clients, and our teams who deliver our professional services in the coming months.”