Previously Director of Resources for Sussex Police, Dr Horne is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant, and a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

A member of the Association of Chief Police Officers since 2002, he chairs ACPO's Procurement Portfolio. He has a doctorate in public policy-making from the University of Bath.

Dr Horne follows a number of officers from Sussex, including Ken Jones and Helen Kilpatrick, who have moved to the centre.

Married with three children, David lists his pastimes as cycling and the countryside.