Diane Blandford

Diane Blandford is a former Detective Inspector with three decades of policing experience. Diane now works with the Police and Crime Commissioner supporting delivery against the local police and crime plan.

Most of her career has been spent working within the public protection bureau investigating offences of child abuse, child exploitation, rape and serious sexual offences. She has worked closely with social care, rape and sexual assault centres, paediatricians, the crown prosecution service (CPS) and others to bring offenders to justice whilst supporting those who were harmed and experienced trauma.

From 2018 – 2021 she led the 'Children First' team, working in partnership to restoratively divert children from the criminal justice system and reoffending. Alongside this she led 'Operation Mamushi' focusing on early intervention, diversion and safeguarding of 32 children who were being criminally exploited by gangs running county lines.

Diane was pivotal to embedding community building and strengths based practice into neighbourhood policing, recognising the importance of meaningful social connections and well connected communities for people and places to thrive and feel safer.

2023–Present: Associate trainer for KCA (Knowledge Change Action)

2019–Present: Ambassador for ‘Remembering Srebrenica’, Bosnia

2018–2022: Detective Inspector Gloucestershire Constabulary

2020–2021: Conducted ACE's (Adverse Childhood Experiences) training throughout Gloucestershire

2018–2021: Managed child criminal exploitation early intervention and diversion team

2018–2021: Managed ‘Children first’ working in partnership to restoratively divert children from criminality and reoffending

2018–2021: Managed the missing children team

2018–2021: Designed and implemented the ‘Exchange project’ with partners to reduce violent offending in children

2018–2021: Detective Sergeant - Rape and serious sexual offences team

2016–2018: Child interview lead for Gloucestershire Constabulary

2005–2016: Detective Constable/Sergeant - Child abuse investigation team

1997–2005: Detective Constable investigating serious and complex crime within CID and the child abuse investigation team

1993–1997: Police Constable Devon and Cornwall Constabulary

CMI Level 5 certificate in management and leadership, CMI, 2018

Higher National Diploma in Policing and police studies, Gloucestershire Constabulary, 2000

4 A-levels: Maths (B), Physics (B), Chemistry (B), French (B), North Devon College , 1992

10 GCSE’s (8 A’s and 2 x B’s), Stella Maris Convent, Bideford , 1990