John is a highly experienced detective, having served with the Devon and Cornwall Police for over 28 years and retiring as Detective Chief Inspector in 2016. He was responsible for the prevention and investigation of domestic abuse, sexual abuse, child and vulnerable adult abuse. For the final four years of his police career he was the Force Lead for Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Harassment, Forced Marriage, Honour Based Abuse, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults/Adults at Risk. He was a member of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board. He is also an experienced Hostage and Crisis Negotiator and Coordinator.

 

John is an accredited and experienced Senior Investigating Officer and has worked and led on a number of serious and protracted investigations up to and including murder and in the later part of his police career, a number of high profile investigations in health-care settings.

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John is a an experienced Domestic Homicide Review (DHR) Chair having chaired and authored DHR and a Child Learning Panel Review's. Nationally, he was a member of the HMIC National Working Group for Domestic Abuse. He has also completed the accredited three day Karma Nirvana Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage training.

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Until recently, John was the Brighton and Hove MARAC Chair and chaired the Brighton MARAC every Thursday for two years bringing the MARAC up to national best practice standards.

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As Director of AbuseFreeLife John provides expert consultation, and designs and delivers bespoke training for clients. He has trained police officers and representatives from other organisations around the United Kingdom on Domestic Abuse, Coercion and Control, Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conferences, Honour Based Abuse and Stalking.  He has lectured and spoken at a number of events including Exeter and Plymouth University, at the Department of Health National FGM Conference, the National Caldicott Guardians Conference, the National Stalking Conference, Coercion and Control Conference and presented to the Isle of Man Government (Tynwald) as they deliberate a new Domestic Abuse Legislative Bill and at the annual London Safeguarding Adults Board Conference and the national stalking conference.

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John continues to work with victims and survivors of domestic abuse and stalking, helping them to navigate the sometime difficult pathways and blockages they come across when dealing with agencies and services.

 

Through partnering with operational leaders and process improvement, John has driven change to improve the experience, satisfaction and safeguarding of victims. He is a talented leader who is able to direct and motivate individuals to improve and achieve their organisational goals and objectives. He has a wealth of experience working in partnership with statutory and voluntary organisations and a sound understanding of partnership priorities, competing agendas and organisational politics.

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John is also an Associate with SafeLives, RockPool, Solace Women's Aid .

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