Martin has been fortunate to have had a wide-ranging experience of professional roles, both in the public and private sector that has informed his teaching and management. He was a police officer for over 30 years, reaching the rank of Temporary Chief Inspector (Head of Learning and Development) in the Lancashire Constabulary. During his service, he was responsible for the operational management of a large policing team covering an area of East Lancashire. Martin was a Control Room Commander overseeing the day-to-day management of a busy control room. He also performed roles of a Firearms Commander and Force/National Emergency Support Officer. Throughout his service, Martin was involved in Education and Training roles. This included forming partnerships with a local university (UCLan), developing the first nationally recognised policing qualification (Fd. Policing) in 2007.
Martin went on to work as the support officer for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) lead for Learning and Development. During this time (2009-2012), he helped to develop policing qualifications and wrote the report that started the development of the formal professionalisation of policing to a degree level. During his time as a police officer, he obtained a 1st BA (Hons) in Education and Training and undertook research on domestic abuse training and its effects on victims. On leaving policing in 2012, Martin continued to work in various roles in both the public and private sectors, managing and delivering training. This included being the Training Director for an international PR and Digital Marketing company, where he developed innovative learning experiences, using art to deliver management training. Martin also designed a mentorship programme for senior leaders. He began working in higher education in 2016.
An experienced lecturer in CYPF, as well as criminology and policing at undergraduate level, Martin currently leads on two Level 6 modules, including Difficulties Families Face/Therapeutic Interventions and Children, Families and the Justice System, and one level 4 module, Safeguarding and Child Protection. Martin provides guest lectures at Level 3 and Level 5. Martin has undertaken all aspects of module convenor, dissertation supervisor and personal academic tutor offering academic and pastoral support to students.
Recently, he co-developed the Professional Policing Degree (PPD) at the University of Huddersfield, launched in September 2023. This involved developing a working relationship with the College of Policing (CoP) the course professional statutory regulatory body and a working relationship with West Yorkshire Police. Martin led the PPD through internal validation and CoP quality standard assurance.
MArtin was a senior lecturer at York St. John University, where he designed three undergraduate police studies programmes and the Professional Policing Degree (PPD), launched in September 2019. Martin was programme lead for policing programmes at the University. He was also involved in the successful bid to form a partnership with Humberside Police to deliver the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) and the Degree Holder Entry Programme (DHEP). These programmes brought in considerable funding. He was responsible for recruitment and retention on policing programmes, and this resulted in strong recruitment numbers. Many of the students recruited to the courses were often ‘first in family’ or from other groups that supported widening participation. Martin was a member of the Higher Education Forum for Policing, a Student Harassment Advisor, and Independent Domestic Abuse Service (IDAS) Champion
Martin has had articles published in Policing Insight (online) relating to sexism in policing and policing education. He has also been involved in media interviews, both locally and nationally relating to professional policing qualifications, forensic advancements and most recently, the disappearance of Claudia Lawrence.