Tough-talking former Flying Squad detective Nick Blackburn has officially stepped into one of London’s highest-pressure policing roles, taking charge as South Area Commander for Croydon, Sutton and Bromley.
The seasoned officer replaces DCS Andy Brittain, who was promoted to Scotland Yard earlier this year. Blackburn now leads the South Area Basic Command Unit (BCU) — a vast policing zone that includes three of the capital’s most diverse and demanding boroughs.
“I asked for this role,” Blackburn said in an exclusive first interview. “My focus is simple — crime suppression through intelligence, visibility and community trust.”
From the Flying Squad to the Front Line
With over 25 years of policing experience, Blackburn’s CV reads like a blueprint for Met leadership. He cut his teeth in Bexley in 1999 before joining the elite Flying Squad, the Met’s rapid-response robbery unit.
Local leaders have welcomed Blackburn’s arrival, praising his operational expertise and track record on serious crime.
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One Croydon councillor told UKNIP: “We need a leader who won’t flinch from the reality on our streets — Blackburn looks like that leader.”
