JOHN BRIGGS

John’s career to date is firmly grounded in his 30 years of service as a police officer in the Derbyshire Constabulary, from which he retired in November 2005.  His career within the Force focused upon crime investigation and crime management at all levels in each of the ranks up to and including Detective Superintendent.  John spent almost two thirds of his police service as an operational detective, investigating all types of crime at all levels, which culminated in him being appointed as the Lead Senior Investigating Officer and Head of Major Crime for the Derbyshire Force.

As a Senior Investigating Officer, John routinely undertook complex investigations of serious and major crime, including financial crimes.  He has led numerous covert operations at a force and regional level and performed the role of ‘Authorising Officer’ in respect of applications to mount covert surveillance and the use and management of Covert Human Information Sources.  John headed Derbyshire’s Force Intelligence Department, implemented a restructuring of the intelligence function within the force and designed and delivered force-wide training on the management of covert information sources.

Moreover, while serving, John (1) investigated complaints on behalf of the Police Complaints Authority and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, including three separate deaths in police custody; and (2) was a nationally qualified Hostage Negotiator and Co-ordinator and regularly advised and critiqued on National and Regional Hostage Negotiators’ Training Courses.

After retiring from the Force, John has notably gone on to be:

(1).   Appointed as the Deputy Senior Investigating Officer by the Rosemary Nelson Public Inquiry.  In this capacity, he provided to the Inquiry Panel an assessment of the murder investigation and the use of covert techniques by those officers who undertook the investigation. His assessment required the detailed examination of a significant quantity of ‘top secret’ covertly acquired evidence gathered during a two year multi-national operation.  John was able to provide the Inquiry with a balanced and forthright assessment, which proved invaluable to the panel and their expert witness.  Much of this assessment appears within the formal report by the Inquiry Panel published in 2011;

(2).   Retained as Deputy Senior Investigator to the Turks and Caicos Islands Special Investigation and Prosecution Team. This team was put together following a Commission of Inquiry which revealed probable systemic corruption at senior government levels involving Turks and Caicos Islands Government Ministers.  John became responsible for all operational matters concerning nine dedicated, but separate investigations of bribery and corruption, involving interacting with numerous jurisdictions throughout the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia, Turkey, Slovakia, Czech Republic and other islands in the Caribbean. The investigation team amounted to over 30 investigators at its peak with over 20 deployed in the territory.  The investigation concluded with 13 persons committed for trial for offences of Conspiracy to Solicit Bribes, Conspiracy to Defraud the TCI Government, Bribery and Misconduct in a Public Office;

(3).   Commissioned by the Bermuda Police Service, to review a highly sensitive live investigation involving allegations of government corruption. John’s recommendations were progressed by the Commissioner of Police and His Excellency the Governor of Bermuda.  He has since been retained as Deputy Senior Investigating Officer to the Bermuda Police Service (BPS), on an operation investigating widespread allegations of corruption by a former Premier and other government Ministers.