Even before becoming PCC David was dedicated to a life of public service. Between 1992 and 2005 he served as a Member of Parliament.
During that time he spent four years as a government whip and a further four years as a Transport Minister within Tony Blair’s government. As a Minister David worked closely with the police giving them the power to seize uninsured vehicles and making it illegal to drive whilst using a handheld mobile phone. He was also involved with the charity Cricket Without Boundaries which promotes HIV/AIDS education for children in central Africa.

Before David dedicated his life to politics, on a full-time basis, he was a teacher. Specialising in Mathematics, he taught at schools across the West Midlands before moving to Plymouth as a Vice Principal of a large community college. Whilst he no longer teaches, his enthusiasm and experience within education continues. He is a Governor at Kingshurst Primary School in North Solihull. It is a school near to where he and his wife Patricia live.