Colin Sutton, Norfolk's newly elected police and crime commissioner, has abandoned plans for an extensive national theatre tour after facing sustained public criticism over his ability to balance the role with a demanding performance schedule.
Sutton, who earns £79,000 annually in his police position, initially defended the venture as a private activity that would not interfere with his official duties. However, on Wednesday he told North Norfolk District Council's scrutiny committee that he had decided to cancel the tour entirely, describing the original scope as
"ridiculous."
The show, billed as "The Makings of a Murderer – Double Jeopardy" and scheduled to run from January to November 2027, had been promoted as
"an unforgettable evening of real-life detective work."Opposition figures questioned how Sutton could oversee Norfolk Police while presenting 127 live shows across the country.
What prompted the reversal?
Sutton said direct contact from residents fundamentally changed his thinking.
"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 the council committee. He acknowledged that while he might have managed a reduced number of performances, proceeding with the full schedule would send the wrong message about his commitment to the police commissioner role.
"What I don't want to do is to give the impression to anybody that I don't take this role seriously and I'm not going to do a good job on this."
According to reporting from Tuesday, Sutton had already begun reconsidering the tour before making his formal announcement the following day.
Who is Colin Sutton?
A high-profile former detective, Sutton led the investigation that resulted in the capture of serial killer Levi Bellfield, responsible for murdering Milly Dowler, Marsha McDonnell and Amelie Delagrange. He has become a regular fixture on television documentaries and has previously undertaken a lengthy national theatre tour discussing his career. Sutton won election as Norfolk's police and crime commissioner in July 2026, comfortably defeating his opponents including Conservative candidate Matthew Taylor.
What have political figures said?
Matthew Taylor, the Conservative councillor who finished second in the commissioner election, characterised the episode as damaging to public trust.
"It has been a sorry saga, one that erodes public confidence in those who are supposed to represent them,"he said, adding that
"many people across Norfolk have been deeply disappointed by this episode."
Ben Goldsborough, the South Norfolk Labour MP, welcomed the decision but criticised the circumstances that led to it.
"But the fact it took a huge public backlash to make him realise that being Norfolk's police and crime commissioner should come before his career as a touring personality tells its own story,"he stated.
What happens next?
According to the latest reporting, Sutton is currently in discussions with the tour promoter, Entertainers, about whether the tour should be cancelled entirely or drastically reduced in scope. No formal decision date has been announced, and the outcome of these negotiations will determine the final status of the theatrical venture.
Key Facts:
- Sutton was elected Norfolk police and crime commissioner in July 2026, only weeks before the theatre tour controversy emerged
- The proposed tour comprised 127 dates scheduled to run from January through November 2027
- Sutton initially maintained the tour would not affect his police duties before reversing his position following resident feedback
- The commissioner is currently negotiating with promoters over whether to cancel the tour completely or reduce its scale
