From the Grenadier Guards to Championing Veterans in Policing
When Darren joined the Guards Depot on 10 September 1990, he could not have known where his military career would eventually lead him.
After 43 weeks of training, Darren passed out and joined the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards, going on to serve for 13 years. When the time came to leave the Army, he completed a Potential Police Officers course as part of his resettlement, hoping to take his military experience into policing. Unfortunately, by the time Darren applied, the route was no longer being accepted. Despite several attempts over the following years, becoming a police officer never quite happened.
But that did not stop Darren from finding another route into policing. After working as a security officer with G4S at NATS, Darren heard about a Detention Officer opportunity with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. He applied and was successful, joining the force on 15 June 2004. More than 22 years later, Darren is still making a difference.
During his career as a Detention Officer, he has worked across a number of custody locations throughout Hampshire, witnessing significant changes in policing and the way custody services operate. In 2008, he was also selected to become a Deputy Team Leader with The Prince’s Trust, supporting young people through its 12-week programme before returning to his role within policing.
Darren’s military background has continued to influence his work. Following two lower-back operations in 2018, he returned to work determined to support other veterans. He developed a veterans’ information pack for those coming into custody, helping ensure that veterans could be identified and connected with appropriate support.
In 2019, Darren helped establish Armed Forces Champion training with the Armed Forces Network. He recruited around 30 officers and police staff to become Armed Forces Champions across Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and joined the force’s internal Armed Forces Forum, where he became a veterans lead.
Since 2023, Darren has continued to champion veterans, attending events across Hampshire and nationally, including at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London, encouraging service-leavers and veterans to consider the opportunities available within policing.
Darren is also the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary advocate for the Forcer Protocol.
The Forcer Protocol helps police identify whether a missing person has a connection to the Armed Forces community, including serving personnel, veterans and reservists. By sharing relevant information and ensuring Armed Forces connections are recognised, the protocol can help officers make informed decisions and connect individuals with appropriate specialist support.
For Darren, it is another way of using his military experience to make a difference.
His journey is a reminder that leaving the Armed Forces does not mean
leaving behind the skills, experience and values gained through service. And a career in policing does not necessarily mean becoming a police officer. From custody and call handling to investigations, control room, administration and specialist support roles, there are many ways for service-leavers and veterans to bring their experience into policing.
Darren’s story shows that sometimes the route you planned isn’t the route you take, but it can still lead somewhere incredibly rewarding.
For further information regarding opportunities with Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary, please visit:
www.hampshirepolicejobs.co.uk
