DI Lee’s Detective Path to Policing Excellence

Detective Inspector Lee is back on his patch in Buckinghamshire after recently taking part in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the USA. Here he tells us more about his investigative career and how he came to join this prestigious program. Lee also shares his five top tips for anyone preparing for a policing career.

“I joined Thames Valley Police in March 2004 and fulfilled my long-standing ambition to become a Detective in 2008. My first investigative post was on the Priority Crime Team (PCT) in Cherwell, tackling burglary, vehicle crime, drug offences, and offender management. Over the years I broadened my experience across the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), local, force and regional intelligence teams, before becoming the South-East Regional County Lines Coordinator.

“My career then took me into national policing, where I was seconded to the NPCC as Head of Operations for Opal, the national intelligence team for serious organised acquisitive crime (SOAC). Here I led national operations tackling SOAC and worked closely with international partners to disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime groups. It was through this work, and on the recommendation of colleagues at the U.S. Embassy in London, that I had the honour of being selected to take part in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP).

“This world-renowned leadership exchange program brings together emerging leaders from across the globe to foster international cooperation, knowledge-sharing, and development of best practice. Former alumni of note, include UK Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Theresa May, alongside numerous high-ranking law enforcement officials and security experts.

“The IVLP was genuinely amazing and transformational – an extraordinary mix of professional learning, cultural diplomacy, and personal enrichment. The key lessons I took away to share with my colleagues include:

• Collaboration is essential – No single agency or nation can succeed alone. I have returned more committed than ever to strengthening partnerships and local collaborations with partner agencies and industry. In my roles, I can pass on the value of these networks to colleagues, ensuring they see international connections as an asset to our local work, and encouraging a culture where sharing and cooperation are second nature.
• Cybercrime is everywhere – So many modern threats, whether drugs, human trafficking, financial crime, or terrorism have a cyber-dimension. I’m working with our teams to embed cyber-thinking into our everyday investigations.
• Justice and fairness are as important as enforcement – Legitimacy, accountability, and fairness underpin trust and confidence in policing. I am reinforcing this by modelling fairness in decision-making and encouraging colleagues to think about outcomes beyond convictions.
• Intelligence fusion works – It sounds obvious but sharing intelligence across agencies, sectors, and regions delivers better results. Strengthening partnerships here in the UK is key. I am championing more joined-up working across our teams and with external partners and showing colleagues how fusion approaches can make investigations quicker, smarter, and more resilient.

“If you are prepared to work hard, policing can offer some fantastic opportunities. So here are my top recommendations for anyone preparing for a policing career:

1. Never stop learning because policing evolves constantly. So embrace the training, stay curious, and be ready to adapt to new threats such as cybercrime.
2. Value fairness and integrity because public trust is the absolute bedrock of policing. Always act with transparency, accountability, and humanity.
3. Build relationships with colleagues, communities, or local and international partners. Strong personal and professional connections strengthen your impact.
4. Think globally but act locally because crimes cross borders digitally, geographically and socially. Understanding how global threats impact on your local communities will make you a stronger officer.
5. Look after yourself and others because the job is demanding. Resilience, wellbeing, and mutual support are essential for sustaining a long and fulfilling policing career.

Read more about the International Visitor Leadership Program.