Martin Fox biography

After a brief stint as a Special Constable in North Wales Police (1994–1996), I joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary in 1996, where I was stationed in Bristol.

Here, I learned about inner-city policing and quickly developed the skills needed to successfully navigate a diverse and complex population.

In the early 2000s, I was promoted to Sergeant and took up a posting in the Trinity Road Police Custody Unit, where Bristol’s criminals were brought following arrest. This fast-moving environment involved managing prisoners who sometimes attempted to harm themselves, police officers, or staff, and their complex needs often requiring a sensitive but positive approach.

After two years, I returned to Response Policing, this time managing a small response team policing central Bristol, where retail theft and alcohol-fuelled disorder were the primary challenges.

After a few years, I was reassigned back to the custody environment, this time at Patchway Custody Centre—a large, multi-cell complex on the northern edge of Bristol—again dealing with detainees and their various complex and challenging needs.

I retired in 2019 to concentrate on police advising.