Fed member discusses ‘privilege’ of public service as he hits 30-year mark in Force

24 June 2026

While he may have already given 30 years of dedication to Hertfordshire Constabulary, Federation member Matt Deveney believes he has plenty more to offer the Force as he moves into a new chapter of his policing career.

A popular and experienced officer, Matt celebrated reaching three decades in the profession at the beginning of June to the admiration of colleagues across the board.

Leading this recognition was Chief Constable Andy Prophet, who presented the 51-year-old with a certificate of service shortly after the arrival of his work anniversary.

Just a few months earlier, Matt had been preparing for the milestone to mark his retirement from the Force and seal a permanent goodbye to his long-time employers – before a surprise opportunity entered his considerations.

 

Federation member Matt Deveney

 

“I’ve had my eye on [reaching] 30 years for a while, and now it’s here, it certainly feels like it’s come around quickly,” he said.

“Of course, it’s something I’m very proud of, regardless of anything else, but it would be fair to say that up until recently, everything had been geared towards my retiring.

“But earlier in the year, I was offered the chance to do a U-turn of sorts through the Force’s retire-and-rehire scheme, meaning I could access my pension but continue working essentially just as before.

“It was an offer which immediately attracted me, because despite my many years, I feel I’ve got more to give to this job and the public we serve.

“I decided to accept, and all of a sudden my plans have changed significantly – but now that the dust has settled, I couldn’t be happier with how the future looks moving forward.”

Plans change

Instead of retirement, Matt will now enjoy an extended break away from work before resuming his Force duties in October.

Upon his return, he will step back into his role in the training and development academy, where he has spent his latter years as a temporary chief inspector.

The position has allowed him to pass down a wealth of experience and knowledge to counterparts from emerging constables to seasoned inspectors, while also representing a first real career departure from the frontline.

“My first posting after joining in 1996 was on intervention in Hemel Hempstead, which was a fantastic start for me. Seven years later, I became a sergeant in this same team,” Matt added.

“I then spent time as both a patrol and custody sergeant in Hemel, before I moved over to neighbourhood policing and later to Letchworth.

“Three of the biggest reasons I wanted to go into policing were to enjoy the variety on offer, to help vulnerable people and to catch offenders, and all these roles I’ve mentioned have certainly allowed me to do that.

Motivation

“Another motivation was to broaden my perception of the police beyond a few negative interactions I had with officers growing up. To not only witness all the goodwill within the police towards the public, but to become an active part of it too, has been a privilege.”

While climbing the ranks, Matt has also taken on crucial additional responsibilities in the Force, including being a crisis and hostage negotiator for seven years.

It was in this extra discipline that he achieved some of his proudest policing moments by acting decisively and compassionately to save the lives of people in the middle of mental health crises.

Most recently, before his current role, he was a response inspector covering Dacorum, St. Albans, Stevenage and North Hertfordshire, which consistently provided him with further career highlights in the shape of seeing his staff develop and be promoted themselves.

“I’m fortunate enough to have had some fantastic relationships with colleagues throughout my time, and having good bonds with the officers you manage is up there as one of the most rewarding.

“Watching them improve and blossom is always something you can’t help but be hugely proud about.”

Relaxing

Over the coming months, Matt says a good portion of his well-deserved time off will be spent on holiday – with trips to Yarmouth, Tunisia and Las Vegas planned – as well as at home relaxing with family, walking his dogs and completing some DIY.

After this, he anticipates being rested and rejuvenated to move into the true twilight of his career and make a fresh impact as an officer.

“It’s definitely going to feel different, going back – there will be an element of freedom, although the pressure will always be there to do a good job.

“I’ll take that pressure as seriously as ever, and I think I’ll appreciate it even more after having a break and knowing that this really is the final chapter for me.

“When it eventually comes around, I’m sure I’ll be ready to go again and give it my absolute best shot,” he ended.

READ MORE: World Cup - Fed rep shares safer gambling advice.