Between 2011 and 2013, Bristow built and designed the agency, from concept to full operational crime-fighting, working closely with the Government, global partners and participating in the UK National Security Council.

[3][4][5] Bristow joined West Mercia Constabulary as a cadet and served in uniformed and Criminal Investigation Department roles.

In 1998 he was promoted Detective Superintendent and seconded to the West Midlands Police Major Investigation Team, later transferring to the force permanently, where he served as operations manager and director of intelligence.

[8] In 2014 and 2015, he chaired the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG), a partnership between UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand which seeks to reduce the international threat and impact of organised crime.

Executives at Wirecard had attempted to portray Financial Times investigative journalists Paul Murphy and Dan McCrum as having been paid by short sellers to bring down the company.