New Chair of the Joint Audit Committee

Benjamyn Damazer has been appointed as the new Chair of the Joint Audit Committee (JAC) for Cambridgeshire’s Police & Crime Commissioner (PCC) and Chief Constable.   

Mr Damazer brings a wealth of policing experience to the role having celebrated more than 50 years working in and around policing.

He was involved in bringing the first helicopter into the force back in the 1990s and has been actively involved in The Bobby Scheme set up in 1999 to help elderly burglary victims feel safe again in their homes.

Starting his policing career as a Special Constable in the Met, Mr Damazer became the longest serving member of the then Cambridgeshire Police Authority prior to the 2012 arrival of Police and Crime Commissioners.

Appointed as a magistrate in 1992, Mr Damazer became the Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire in 2014 and Vice Lord-Lieutenant from 2020 – 2023.

His promotion to chair follows on from serving as a JAC member since January 2026. His term of office will run until January 2030.

The JAC provides independent scrutiny and assurance on the adequacy of the corporate governance, risk management and the associated control environment. It focuses on how things are done in line with good governance principles and practice. 

JAC’s five members, who are independent of the Commissioner and the Chief Constable, meet quarterly and are responsible for advising on good governance principles and proper practices.

On embracing his new role Mr Damazer, who is an experienced change and transformation leader, said: “This is a huge privilege for me and a role I have aspired to throughout my policing journey.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Darryl Preston said: “I welcome Benjamyn as chair of the JAC and know that his many years of experience across policing and as a committee member will continue to prove invaluable.

“I look forward to working with him to ensure the force is functioning efficiently and effectively. Everything we do as part of the JAC helps build public trust and confidence in policing.”