John Meredith
John retired from Thames Valley Police as a Detective Inspector in 2000. During the last 5 years of his service, he managed and led three teams of detective officers, responsible for the investigation of serious sexual offences, including allegations of abuse to vulnerable adults and children, across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
He was the senior police representative for Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes Area Multi Agency Child Protection Committees, responsible for procedures and the investigation of the most serious cases of child abuse and the investigations of suspicious deaths of children. He ensured close liaison and multi-agency working, particularly on joint investigations with Social Services and NHS departments.
During his wide and varied police career John gained expertise in CID, Drug Squad and Cheque and Fraud Departments. He received extensive Home Office accredited detective training to senior level. He also trained officers in the specialist field of video interviewing of abused children and vulnerable witnesses (National Memorandum of Good Practice). John attained qualifications in Human Resources, Recruitment Assessment and Health and Safety, during his duties as Personnel Inspector.
Being qualified in the Police National Large Major Enquiry Computer System (HOLMES) he was a regular senior member of several high profile major murder investigations in the Thames Valley Region, directing new lines of enquiries, planning interviews of suspects and detailed preparation of trial papers.
John successfully investigated a case of physical abuse at a 'Residential Care Home for the Elderly' following the death of an elderly resident. The proprietor, a registered nurse, was convicted under the Mental Health Act, sentenced to a period of imprisonment and struck off the nursing register. This case attracted national press and television interest. John has also been the senior investigator on serious child abuse cases involving allegations of 'baby shaking,' 'Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy,' and 'historical child abuse' cases.
Following his police career, John maintained close links with other agencies and has worked as a consultant on investigations into abuse against the elderly and vulnerable adults, conducted Complaint Investigations on behalf of Social Services, carried out an Audit of Service Delivery at a Care Organisation, and presented training to NHS Health Care Professionals on the reporting of ill-treatment or abuse of patients.
Since 2003 John has been a professionally qualified Polygraph Examiner, following his American Polygraph Association accredited training by the International Academy of Polygraph, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA.
During the last three years he has gained invaluable polygraph testing expertise, with particular emphasis in the field of Post Convicted Sex Offenders. He is a member of the American Polygraph Association. John is also a member of the (BEPA).