Jim Cunningham

I joined the Army at 16 serving 13 years in the infantry across the world on a number of operations. I instructed at the Jungle Warfare School in Brunei and Sandhurst before attend my Regimental Depot as a platoon commander; leaving having gained the rank of Colour Sergeant.

In 1990 I joined Hertfordshire Constabulary before transferring to Durham Constabulary in 1994. I had secondments with the Home Office and Special Branch following 7/7 working on a National project as the Police lead for change on e-Borders, establishing links between the Home Office, security service, immigration services HMRC, HM Visas. 

The majority of my career was in CID and firearms; I was on the first cohort to be trained as a Family Liaison Officer; which is a role of supporting the families following a murder or suspicious death. I later help set up dedicated Domestic and Child Abuse teams in Durham; supporting survivors of such incidents gain justice and supporting multi agency working and introducing MARAC (Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences) 

I was also trained in close protection, sniper and hostage rescue. During my firearms career I was also a tactical advisor, this is someone who plans and coordinates firearms operation, including mobile armed surveillance.

I gained my degree in 2012 from Sunderland University and retired from the police in 2013 and immediately joined the Hillsborough Investigation Team for 2 years investigating the death of the 96 Liverpool supports in 1989. I was a school governor for 12 years at the most successful secondary school in Darlington; I then became I the Deputy Director of the Carmel Multi Academy Trust with responsibility for safeguarding across our 16 primary and secondary schools.

I established the ‘Community Peer Mentor’ project in August 2015 at the request of Mr Hogg and we went live in April 2016. I am extremely proud of our wonderful team and what has been achieved; the coordinators and volunteers are awe-inspiring people with vast amount of experiences in different fields, this provides a centre of excellence for advice and guidance when supporting the most vulnerable people at the most difficult time in their lives.

I love rugby, and still play, most to the distress and dismay of my wife and children.