He transferred to Sussex Police as Superintendent in 1991 and served in Brighton where drugs continued to be a feature of police work until 1994 when he became an Assistant Chief Constable in South Yorkshire, serving there for seven years.

As a member of the ACPO Public Order Sub-Committee, he had responsibility for domestic and international football from 1997 to 2002 and was involved in policing a wide range of issues at national and strategic level, acting as Secretary between 1999 and 2001. He also set up and commanded the National Police Co-ordinating Centre for the Millennium Celebrations. In the Millennium New Year's Honours List he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM).

In January 2002 he was seconded to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary at the Home Office where he oversaw all aspects of operational policing. In April 2005 he was appointed Chief Constable of Humberside Police. In July 2006 he took on national ACPO responsibility for Drugs and in April 2008 he became Vice President of ACPO. In summer 2009, he worked in London as the full time Vice President prior to the arrival of the new President of ACPO, Sir Hugh Orde OBE.