District Commander, Andy

I grew up in Ryde and Newport, and from an early age I knew I wanted to serve my community. Becoming a police officer was always my ambition – I wanted to make a real difference in the place I call home. After serving in the Royal Air Force, policing felt like a natural next step. It’s a career built on discipline, teamwork, and public service – values I’ve always held close.

I joined Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary in 2002 and was posted to Ryde after my initial training. Early on, I was involved in frontline policing, including the arrest of a knife-point robbery suspect who had targeted a vulnerable pensioner. That moment really reinforced why I do this job, to protect those who need us most.

Over the years, I’ve worked across neighbourhood policing and major incident management. I was part of the public order team that helped police the 2005 G7 Summit in Gleneagles – a high-profile operation that demanded precision, resilience, and coordination. As a Sergeant and later an Inspector, I’ve led responses to critical incidents across the Isle of Wight, always with a focus on keeping people safe and supporting my team.

I believe policing is unique. It’s not about individual effort – it’s about the strength of the team. We bring together different skills, backgrounds, and perspectives, and that’s what makes us effective. We work for each other, and for the communities we serve.

Now, as District Commander, my role is to support our teams in delivering outstanding local policing across the island. I’m proud to lead here, proud of the place, and proud of the people.

One of my proudest moments was laying the police wreath on Remembrance Sunday in St Thomas Square, Newport. It was a symbolic act that connected my service to the island’s history and values – something I’ll never forget.

To anyone thinking about joining us, my message is simple: if you care about your community, want to be part of something bigger, and are ready to grow – policing on the Isle of Wight is a career like no other.

For our current vacancies visit our vacancy page All Hampshire Constabulary Jobs, or if you have any questions, please contact police.recruitment@hampshire.police.uk and we would be happy to help. Alternatively, please call us on 023 8045 1611.