Joined Merseyside Police in 1984 and worked in a variety of roles including uniform patrol, custody, CID and Professional Standards from a Constable to an Inspector. He also worked in Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) at a regional and national level as a Chief Inspector.

In 1998 he transferred on promotion to Lancashire Constabulary where he worked as an Area Commander in Preston before returning to Merseyside in 2002 as an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC).

As an ACC he had responsibility for Personnel and Training and then later for Operations which included Criminal Justice, Call Handling, Despatch and Community Relations.

In 2008 he took up the role as Deputy Chief Constable although in October 2009 he became the Temporary Chief Constable of Merseyside Police until Chief Constable, Jon Murphy, took up the role in 2010.
 
2011 Awarded QPM in Queens Birthday Honours