David retired from public service in June 2017 after a 41-year career in law enforcement. He joined the Metropolitan Police Service in 1976, serving in a wide variety of posts and roles across London.
In 2001 he was Commander of the Serious Crime Group (latterly Specialist Crime Directorate) at New Scotland Yard with responsibility for a range of disciplines, including homicide, child protection, economic crime, fraud, extradition, witness protection and sensitive covert enquiries. He led on the reorganisation of the Metropolitan Police Service response to homicide and the creation of the Fraud and Economic Crime Command. He took on the role as Gold Commander in over 200 high impact cases and was Senior Investigating Officer in a number of high-profile, sensitive matters, including major public sector corruption investigations and the inquiry into the death of Princes Diana on behalf of the Royal Coroner. He was the OIOC (officer in overall command) of the investigation into a linked series of homicides which led to the conviction of Levi Bellfield for the murders of Marsha McDonnell, Amelie Delagrange and Milly Dowler and the attempted murder of Kate Sheedy. David also undertook the Gold role for the identification of British victims of the Bali bombing and for all victims of the London tube bombings in 2005.
In 2006, David was appointed Deputy Director Proceeds of Crime in the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) where he designed and established a department which focused on the expansion of the use of financial intelligence and Proceeds of Crime powers to undermine serious organised criminals and deny them their assets. During this time, he led a review of the UK suspicious activity reporting regime on behalf of the SOCA chairman, Sir Stephen Lander, which resulted in substantial system changes and improvements. He represented SOCA nationally and internationally as the subject lead and expert.
Two years later, he took up the role of SOCA’s Deputy Director International. He was the senior SOCA representative for all overseas partnerships and multi-lateral law enforcement institutions, with responsibility for upstream operational activity and delivery, the SOCA Liaison Officer Network, Interpol National Central Bureau and Europe National Unit. During this time he was a member of the Europol Management Board and the COSI – the EU Security Committee.
In 2012, David was recruited as the first of the Directors for the new National Crime Agency, working alongside the Director General (Designate) in the Home Office to design, build and launch the new Agency in October 2013. He then took specific responsibility for the Border Policing Command, a new national function for improving security and the response to serious organised crime at the Border, incorporating precursor agency international networks, Joint Border Intelligence Units and investigative teams, providing national coverage for key ports. He chaired the National Border Security Group to oversee and co-ordinate multi-agency activity in this area of work. He continued to be the international lead for the NCA at both an operational and strategic level and was a member of the NCA Board. In July 2014, his role was significantly expanded to incorporate all intelligence and operational functions for the organisation. In November 2014 he was elected onto the Interpol Executive Committee for a three-year term, having led the UK delegation at the Interpol General Assembly since 2009.
In July 2015, he was appointed as the Deputy Director General at the NCA, taking the Chair of the monthly National Tactical Tasking and Co-ordination Meeting and other committees covering operational activity, critical incidents, risk, investment and change. He was a regular attendee at NSC, NSC(O) and COBRA and was a member of the National Police Chiefs Council. He retired from this role in June 2017.
He is currently the Managing Director of a consultancy practice, providing strategic advice and services to a range of domestic and international clients in the field of law enforcement, intelligence and national security.
David was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service in 2006 and was made CBE for services to law enforcement and international policing in 2016.
David is married with three adult daughters. His interests include travelling, running, trekking and hill walking. He is also a keen rugby enthusiast who is a Vice President at East London RFC.