John was elected as West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2016. The role was previously held by an Independent PCC who did not seek re-election.

He has a broad background in the private and public sector and was elected as a Wyre Forest District Councillor in 2004, becoming the authority’s youngest Leader in 2007. He led the Council through difficult times, including the Icelandic banking collapse, the recession and the subsequent austerity measures. He led the process that envisaged and delivered a new cemetery and crematorium for the District and led the reinvention of the Council's economic regeneration strategy in response to the recession, which has seen many millions of pounds invested and hundreds of jobs created as a result.

Whilst Leader he also led a process to reduce the number of District Councillors from 42 down to 33 helping the council to reduce its annual spend by nearly a third, whilst minimising the impact on communities, including centralising the staff on one single site saving £750k pa. When he stepped down as Leader, he was the Council's longest continuous serving leader.

John has a BSc (Hons) in Business Information Systems from Liverpool John Moores University and has previously worked in private business as well as in the High Security Prison system.