He left school at 16 and went to Warsash College of Nautical Studies (which later merged to form Southampton Solent University) before joining the Merchant Navy as a deck officer.
This included the introduction of a number of "havens" in London, in partnership with the National Health Service, where rape victims can receive immediate medical and psychological support in a non-police environment.
He was also responsible for the implementation of the Safer Neighbourhoods Programme, delivering dedicated teams of officers to wards throughout London.
He was the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead on Criminal Justice, tasked with reducing bureaucracy in the preparation of cases and improving integration and working practices with the Crown Prosecution Service, and also the ACPO lead on Mobile Phone Crime, a role he first performed as Assistant Commissioner.
He received the Royal Humane Society Testimonial in 1991 for rescuing a man from a high bridge over a railway line, was awarded the runner up prize for Equal Opportunities Achievement in the Police Service by the Home Secretary in 1996, and in 1998 received the National Prize for Public Management Leadership from the Office for Public Management.