David Jackson was a police officer for thirty years, serving with the Metropolitan, the Royal Hong Kong, Lancashire, Merseyside and Gloucestershire Police.

He has undertaken two periods of Foreign and Commonwealth Office secondment to the Republic of South Africa and one as an independent consultant.

His first secondment was as an International Peace Observer on behalf of the European Community (ECOMSA) and the second as an International Observer and expert police adviser to ‘The Commission of Enquiry Regarding the Prevention of Public Violence, Corruption and Intimidation’ (The Goldstone Commission).

 On each occasion he was deeply involved with capacity building projects, which necessitated liaison with state structures, NGOs, political parties, local structures and even terrorist groups.

He left the police in September 1995 and ran his own international consultancy specialising in Policing issues and conflict management.  He was appointed a Senior Fellow to the ‘Centre for Conflict Resolution’ at The University of Cape Town and a consultant to a wide range of state, private and non-governmental agencies throughout South Africa.

From late 1996 to June 2001 David was the Director of the Gloucestershire Branch of the British Red Cross. Since then he has been an independent consultant specialising in Police related issues. (See www.peaceserviceinternational.org)

During his two periods of secondment in an international role in South Africa between 1992 and 1994, David was responsible for the initiation of several multi-agency crime reduction and capacity building projects, which have since developed further, some now of national significance.

Whilst attached to the “Goldstone Commission” he worked with the University of South Africa (“UNISA”) and the Medical Research Council on the methodology of epidemiological research into non-accidental injury reduction in deprived areas of Johannesburg and violence against women on the railway system.

He acted as a police adviser to the South African Police group planning the security and crowd control during President Mandela’s election to Parliament and in so doing, he helped organise the first joint operation between the SAP and the informal community policing structures.

He has maintained extensive contacts throughout South Africa in academic, Legal, Human rights and Police circles. During his periods in South Africa he received many positive affirmations of both his work and his understanding of the issues and dynamics of the country. (See www.peaceserviceinternational.org)

He holds a BA (Hons) in Politics from Liverpool University and has post-graduate research experience of the development politics of Arab Africa and Latin America.  On two occasions during his career, he has been nationally selected to attend prestigious command courses at the Police Staff College, Bramshill.

He was commended on five occasions during his police career (including once in South Africa) for bravery, leadership under duress and outstanding investigative work.

His experience has been wide-ranging.  In 1965 he joined the Metropolitan Police and served in Central London.  In 1967 he was appointed to the Royal Hong Kong Police as an Inspector.  This was the time of the Cultural Revolution in China and riots and bombing campaigns beset Hong Kong.  David served as a Riot Unit Commander, a Bomb Disposal officer, uniform branch officer and a Detective Inspector in Special Branch.

After four years, he returned to the UK and joined Lancashire Constabulary but following reorganisation, became a member of the Merseyside Police, rising through the ranks from Constable to Chief Inspector and attending Liverpool University from 1976-79.

 From 1983-85 he was responsible for the management of the Police national Graduate Entry Scheme and acted as a recruitment and selection policy adviser to several police forces.

He returned to Liverpool in 1985 to work on Corporate Planning and later to serve in a deprived part of the city.  It was there that he became deeply involved in working with the community and other agencies.  Of particular note, was his participation in The World Health Organisation’s ‘Healthy Cities’ Programme, an international multi-agency project and an exemplar of a lateral approach to crime reduction and social vulnerability – particularly in respect of domestic violence. 

From 1989 to August 1995 David served as Superintendent with the Gloucestershire Constabulary.

David has two sons and his interests mainly centre upon caving and associated activities. He enjoys travel, reading, poetry, music, theatre and cookery. (February 2006)

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