JESIP is provided with governance through the JESIP Interoperability Board which meets quarterly and is chaired by the police National Strategic Lead and JESIP Senior Responsible Officer. This is a chief officer level board, supported by cross-government departments at the director level.
The national strategic leads for the police, ambulance and fire & rescue sectors act as a conduit to the services in their respective sector. All other responder organisations are represented directly by a senior officer or by the relevant Government Department and the Local Government Association.
Further governance is provided through a Ministerial Oversight Board.
JESIP Interoperability Board Membership Chart
Meet the National Strategic Leads
Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington
JESIP National Police Strategic Lead and Senior Responsible Officer, JESIP Interoperability Board Chair
Essex Police Chief Constable, Ben-Julian Harrington, or BJ, began his policing career with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in 1990. BJ brought with him experience not only from his work with HM Customs and Excise, but his skills as a reserve soldier in the Parachute Regiment too.
After learning the ropes as a response police officer, BJ joined the Metropolitan Police Services’ specialist public order team, the Territorial Support Group (TSG). He became a Sergeant in 1996 and continued through the ranks until becoming Area Commander for Northwest London in 2014. He had gained operational policing experience in a variety of roles and in particular an interest in public order policing.
Roles included overseeing the London 2012 Olympics, the implementations of Safer Neighbourhood Teams and becoming Commander for Public Order in London.
BJ also worked as one of the National Counter Terrorism Commanders.
In 2017, BJ was seconded to the role of Deputy Chief Constable for Essex Police. He took over as the Chief Constable in October 2018.
Alongside his Chief Constable responsibilities, BJ is also the chair of the NPCC Operations Coordination Committee (NOCC). BJ has a postgraduate diploma in Police Leadership from Leicester University. He is also a graduate of the Cabinet Office Leaders UK senior public service leadership programme.
Chief Executive Officer Anthony Marsh
JESIP National Ambulance Strategic Lead
Anthony started his Ambulance Service career in 1987. Anthony has held a number of senior posts with the Ambulance Service in Hampshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. He is the longest serving substantive Chief Ambulance Officer in the country.
Anthony holds 3 Masters Degrees. MSc in Strategic Leadership, Master in Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Arts. He is also a Professor of Emergency Services Management.
Anthony also holds the National Portfolio for Emergency Planning, Major Incident Response
and Resilience. He is also the National Ambulance Strategic Lead for JESIP, Interoperability and Counter Terrorism. He also oversees and hosts the National Ambulance Resilience Unit on behalf of NHS England.
Anthony was appointed NHS England and NHS Improvement National Strategic Advisor of Ambulance Services in 2018.
Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther
JESIP National Fire Strategic Lead
Chris started his career as an operational firefighter based at Gateshead Community Fire Station in 1997.
He has an impressive and varied background in training, community safety and operations and has taken a lead role in a number of national resilience programmes.
He was appointed Chief Fire Officer in February 2017, taking up the post in April 2017. Chris has held a number of roles within the fire service, including Station Officer for Community Safety, during which time he was instrumental in introducing home safety checks which have significantly reduced fires in the home.
Chris chairs the National Fire Chiefs Committee (NFCC), Operational Coordination Committee (OCC), the lead body for Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and sits on a number of NFCC groups including the NFCC Board.
Policy and collaboration are integral to Chris’s current role and will continue to be a focus going forward. He works collaboratively with Northumbria Police and other key partners, and the implementation of the Integrated Risk Management Plan is an important part of his remit.
Under his leadership, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service will focus on workforce reform and broadening and strengthening our contribution to our community.
