Jackie Malton (born 1951) 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.
Malton's police career, initially in the Leicestershire and then the Metropolitan Police Forces, was notable for her rise within the ranks of a very male, heterosexual establishment while being a woman detective who was openly gay. Malton worked in a number of areas, including The Flying Squad, Murder Squad and Fraud Squad. She also acted as a whistle-blower against police corruption in the 1980s.
Following her work with La Plante on the Prime Suspect series, and her ensuing involvement with Cracker and Band of Gold, Malton retired from the Metropolitan Police Force in 1997 to pursue a career in script consultancy and has subsequently worked on a number of television series including The Bill.
Malton is currently one of a panel of expert judges on the television series Britain's Psychic Challenge.