Academic researcher. Senior Lecturer, Department Geography and Environmental Sciences. Derek joined Northumbria University in 2008 as a lecturer in Crime Science and has been the BSc Crime Science programme leader since attaining the position of senior lecturer in 2009. He has considerable experience of the teaching and learning quality assessment processes, developed a BA programme in Human Geography & Crime and a number of bespoke accredited training courses for industry. Derek is the Principal Investigator for an EU-funded project in partnership with 6 European agencies and government bodies concerning transnational offending and the exchange of bioinformatics across EU state borders. In addition Derek is actively engaged in securing funding from the private sector for a student bursaries and research projects. Prior to joining academia Derek was a serving UK Police Officer for 30 years during which time he received 8 commendations for investigatory work. He spent the majority of his service in investigation roles working in departments ranging from general localised criminal investigation, Vice & Drug investigations, National and International investigations and major crime operations. Derek has 12 year's experience as a school governor, including 8 years as Chair of Governors at a Primary school. Derek has an MSc in Crime Science with University College London from 2007. Derek became a member of the Board of Governors of Northumbria in December 2012.