He served in the Fleet Air Arm in the Second World War from 1942 to 1946, when he joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable.
As a Deputy Assistant Commissioner, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in the 1975 New Year Honours.
[6][7][8][9] In February 1977 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C", in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
[10][11] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1978 Birthday Honours[12] and retired in 1984.
Kelland was an enthusiastic freemason and a founder member in 1986 of the Manor of St James, a lodge which was solely for Metropolitan Police officers who had worked in the West End of London.