Jackie Malton (born 1951[1]) is a UK television script consultant and former senior police officer best known for being the inspiration for the character of DCI Jane Tennison in the Prime Suspect drama written by Lynda La Plante.
Following her work with La Plante on the Prime Suspect series, and her involvement with Cracker and Band of Gold, Malton retired from the Metropolitan Police in 1997 to pursue a career in script consultancy and has subsequently worked on over twenty major television police series including The Bill, Trial & Retribution, Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, both series of Murder Investigation Team and The Level for ITV.
Malton also wrote a play, which was aired on BBC Radio 4 entitled "Be Mine".
She contributed a chapter to Addiction, Behavioural Change and Social Identity, edited by Sarah A. Buckingham and David Best.
Jackie Malton's biography, "The Real Prime Suspect" was published by Endeavour in 2023.