With over three decades of experience in policing and leadership, Craig Dibdin brings invaluable operational insight and strategic understanding to Sopra Steria’s Public Safety Group. After a long career in the police service including senior leadership roles across multiple forces Craig is now applying his experience to help shape innovative solutions for modern policing challenges.
Now at Sopra Steria, Craig works closely with the Public Safety Group (PSG) to strengthen its consultancy capabilities and deepen engagement with policing clients.
Career highlights and experience
Craig’s path into policing was inspired by family tradition and a strong moral compass. “My dad was a police officer in Hampshire, so I grew up around policing,” Craig explains. “I always had a strong sense of right and wrong - I didn’t like bullies or people who harmed others - and that moral drive made joining the police feel like a natural choice.”
He joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1991, later serving in Thames Valley Police and Wiltshire Police. Over the next three decades, Craig developed deep expertise across local policing, criminal investigations, counterterrorism, and leadership roles.
Building confidence and leading others
Craig’s early years were spent on the front line, working in Southampton and developing his communication and investigative skills. “I stayed a constable for 11 years,” he recalls. “Partly because I loved the work - and partly because I lacked the confidence to take exams. But when I eventually did, I passed both the Sergeant’s and Inspector’s exams first time and enjoyed both roles which gave me the belief that I could lead effectively.”
That breakthrough led to a series of leadership roles, from Detective Inspector to Chief Inspector, and later as head of the Southeast Regional Organised Crime Unit, where he oversaw major operations spanning five police forces and worked closely with the National Crime Agency and Home Office.
“Leadership in policing is about authenticity,” Craig says. “The best leaders maintain who they are throughout their journey. Those who combine operational credibility and strategic awareness with genuine connection are the ones people want to work for.”
Collaboration and putting people first
Craig’s leadership has always centred on people, from colleagues and communities to victims and partners. “No matter the rank or the role, policing is about people,” he says. “Whether you’re supporting a colleague through a tough case or helping a community rebuild trust, you’ve got to care about the human side first.”
He also led the first public protection unit in Southampton, a pioneering initiative that brought together police, community advocates, and national charities to better support women affected by domestic and honour-based violence. “That work showed how innovation and empathy can go hand in hand,” Craig reflects. “We made a real difference to people’s lives and that’s something I’ll always be proud of.”
Supporting policing through technology
Today, Craig’s focus is on how technology can enhance the human strengths that define policing. “Technology should serve people,” he explains. “It should give officers more time to focus on what matters: keeping communities safe and building trust.”
At Sopra Steria, he’s helping to bridge the gap between operational experience and digital innovation. Drawing on his leadership background, Craig is working to ensure that technology solutions are practical, accessible, and truly aligned to the needs of modern policing.
Having spent years on the frontline, Craig understands the realities officers face every day. UK policing is under immense pressure -balancing constrained budgets and workforce challenges with rising demand, new forms of crime, and the vital need to rebuild public confidence.
“These are complex challenges,” Craig says, “As the world changes, we need to harness digital tools in a way that supports officers, empowers communities, and delivers lasting impact.”
Looking ahead
For Craig, joining Sopra Steria is a natural continuation of his lifelong commitment to public service. “I want to help policing evolve, to bridge the gap between where we are and where technology can take us,” he says. “It’s about improving outcomes for both the public and officers.”
Read more from our policing expertise in Sopra Steria series where we’ve spoken to some of our colleagues whose careers span operational policing, leadership, and specialist roles.