Since 1828 the following officers of Derbyshire Constabulary were killed while attempting to prevent or stop a crime in progress:[10] To police the county the force is divided into two territorial divisions, based respectively in the towns of Buxton and Chesterfield (North Division – covering High Peak and Derbyshire Dales District Council areas, Chesterfield, NE Derbyshire, Amber Valley and Bolsover and the villages of South Normanton and Pinxton which lie within the boundaries of Bolsover District Council), and Derby ( South Division – policing the city of Derby and the districts of Erewash, Long Eaton and South Derbyshire).

The Old Hall and later additional buildings in the large grounds house much of the force's central administrative services.

The Ops Divisions HQ at Wyatts Way Ripley (adjacent to force Headquarters) is now the home of Operational Support Division which encompasses the Road Policing Unit (with bases at Cotton Lane in Derby, Beetwell Street in Chesterfield and Chapel-en-le-Frith), ARU (Armed Response Unit), Dog Section, Uniform Task Force and Road Policing Support (Collision Investigators).

Charles previously served as Vice Chair of the Derbyshire Police Authority.

In its latest PEEL inspection, Derbyshire Constabulary was rated as follows:[14] Proposals were made by the Home Secretary on 20 March 2006 to integrate groups of police forces in England and Wales into 'strategic' forces, which he saw as being more 'fit for purpose' in terms of combating terrorism and organised crime.