David Wood spent 31 years with the Metropolitan Police Service in many roles, including leading the national approach to serious corruption in policing in the late 1990s. He retired from policing at the rank of deputy assistant commissioner in 2005. In 2000 he was seconded to Northern Ireland as operational deputy to the new Police Ombudsman, assisting her in bringing in new accountability arrangements for the Royal Ulster Constabulary (subsequently PSNI), leading the operations until 2006.

In 2006 David joined the Home Office as Director of Policy for the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. David led on the policy for the criminal justice system of England and Wales. In 2008 he moved to the UK Border Agency as a Board member and Director for Enforcement and Crime with responsibility for the detention estate of the agency, enforcement improvement, intelligence, the deportation of foreign national offenders, escorting services, children’s issues and criminal and financial investigation.

In May 2012 David became Deputy Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency responsible for the overall day to day delivery management including contingency, tasking, operational performance and operational intelligence.