Martin began his policing career with Norfolk Constabulary in 1988, having gained a BA (Hons) degree from Birmingham University.

He served 16 years with Norfolk both in CID and operational roles, and in 2003, while a Detective Chief Inspector, he was seconded to the Foreign Office, making a series of six trips to Malawi to help set up their Police service's national intelligence and crime management systems.

On his return, he headed Norfolk 's anti-corruption unit in Professional Standards, before being promoted to Superintendent in charge of Suffolk 's Professional Standards Department.

In 2006, as Chief Superintendent and Basic Command Unit (BCU) Commander, he led the amalgamation of the Eastern and Southern policing areas in Suffolk, which encompassed the towns of Ipswich and Lowestoft. Martin was a BCU Commander in Suffolk at the time of the Suffolk strangler murders and investigation.

Before successfully completing the 2008 Strategic Command Course at Bramshill College , Martin gained an advanced Diploma in Police Leadership from University College, Dublin, while, attending the Garda Executive Leadership programme.

During the first two years as ACC in Northamptonshire Martin was responsible for Territorial Policing which includes Response Policing, Community Safety Teams, Specialist Operations including Firearms, Road Policing, Dogs, Air Support and additionally Contact Management. During this period Martin was heavily involved with the Force restructure which moved Territorial Policing to a no BCU model and for this two years led on Force performance.

Martin's current Portfolio is Crime and Justice which includes responsibility for all Major Crime, Serious and Organised Crime, Counter Terrorism, Public Protection, Criminal Justice and Custody.

Martin has led for the Force on the first two years of Operation Guardian, a large scale countrywide initiative that has reduced significantly crimes of Robbery, Burglary and Vehicle crime in Northamptonshire. Martin has led the Policing operation for the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in both 2009 and 2010 and in 2011 led the Force response around the local and national disorder seen during August.

Martin currently leads on the planning for Northamptonshire's response around the 2012 Olympics and the Torch Relay which will come to Northamptonshire in July, and for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) he is the National lead for Vetting.