At Mark43, we don’t just build technology for first responders, we invest in the people who make it possible. That includes teammates like Callum Gray, whose real-world experience with Merseyside Police is helping shape the solutions we deliver to UK police forces.
Before joining Mark43, Callum spent nearly a decade working with operational teams involved in desk-based investigations inside custody environments across Merseyside. Now, as an Associate RMS Architect based in the UK, he plays a pivotal role in delivering Mark43’s modern, cloud-native technology to police forces, including the successful launch in Cumbria.
We asked Callum to share insights on his transition to Mark43 and his perspective on the opportunities for innovation in policing. Here are his key takeaways:
From the Field to the Front Lines of Innovation
My path into public safety began with a university degree in Policing Studies, focused on criminology and law. In 2017, I joined Merseyside Police as a Case Builder, where I was responsible for preparing case files and managing the legal processes needed to bring them to court.
I later moved to a Case Development Team within the custody suites, where my days were spent conducting interviews, carrying out desk-based investigations, supporting daily operations like drug testing and identification procedures along with regular liaison with criminal justice partners. I then took on a leadership role, managing a team who handled interviews and other key custody-related functions.
Those years gave me a clear understanding of what officers need to work effectively, and how systems can add unnecessary challenges to an already demanding job.
Why Mark43
When I first connected with the team at Mark43, it immediately felt different. From the outset, it was clear this wasn’t just about filling a position, it was about finding the right people to advance a shared mission. The interviews felt more like genuine conversations. Everyone was warm, straightforward, and united by a clear purpose: improving policing through better technology.
After years of working with a legacy RMS platform in UK policing, I was ready for something more. Mark43 stood out as a truly modern, cloud-native platform that could address real operational challenges.
What resonated most was the opportunity to create impact at scale. I had spent years involved in improvements within a single force. At Mark43, I saw the opportunity to help modernise systems across multiple forces while continuing to serve by supporting those on the front lines.
One of the most pleasant surprises after joining was how closely I work with senior leadership. In previous roles, I rarely spoke with anyone beyond my direct manager. Here, I regularly collaborate with leaders across departments, including our co-founders and executive team. They’re not just guiding from a distance, they’re hands-on, committed and supportive at every level. This level of accessibility and engagement stands out as a defining part of the culture at Mark43.
What I Do Today: Building with the End User in Mind
As an Associate RMS Architect, I work directly with forces to understand their needs and configure their system to make their day-to-day work more effective.
During the Cumbria Phase 1 rollout and post go-live, I took on a hybrid role as both an RMS Architect along with a Customer Experience role. I am regularly on-site with the customers, participating in working sessions, escalating issues, and ensuring their voice is represented within our internal processes.
My experience in policing allows me to represent the real operational challenges officers face. That perspective helps us spot potential blockers early, fine-tune our product, and ensure the system truly supports officers in doing their jobs and serving their communities.
Why Cloud-Native Matters
In UK policing, most RMS platforms are still stuck in the past. Maintaining on-premises infrastructure is expensive, resource-intensive and often disruptive. I remember system updates that brought everything to a halt for 8 to 10 hours, slowing down critical work and creating frustration across the force.
With a cloud-native platform like Mark43, updates happen in real-time, with 99.95% uptime. Even minor changes, like modifying a field, can often be delivered within hours instead of months.
Cloud-native architecture also makes collaboration easier through consortium models, allowing different forces to share infrastructure while tailoring workflows to their individual needs. One force might track something entirely different from another, and Mark43 makes that configurability seamless. Best of all, the platform evolves continuously, so what forces have today will only get smarter and more capable over time.
Feedback That Reinforces the Mission
The most rewarding part of this work is hearing from officers using the platform. After we went live in Cumbria, I spent time on-site listening to how users were adjusting to the new system.
Several said that almost immediately, certain reports were taking them half the time to complete compared to their previous system. Others described how intuitive it felt.
Having worked in policing, I know how frustrating it can be to navigate clunky systems. Watching reports move seamlessly through the system and being a part of the company that made this happen, was a proud moment for me.
Building the UK Team and Looking Ahead
Being part of the growing UK team has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve learned so much from our project managers, technical leads, and CXMs, from how they track issues to how they approach problem-solving. In return, I’ve been able to use my policing background to help the team develop features that better resonate with UK customers.
There’s also a strong culture of collaboration across the company. Whether someone is based in Manchester, New York City, or a remote employee, we’re constantly learning from each other. I often get asked, “Will this work in the UK?” and I enjoy shaping those conversations with my frontline insight.
That exchange goes both ways. One recent example is a set of features originally developed for UK RMS users that are now being used by US police departments. It’s a strong reminder that when we collaborate across the globe, we’re not just building better features, we’re learning from each other and driving better outcomes for public safety as a whole.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about the impact we will have in modernising technology across UK forces. With a better system, fewer manual steps, and a platform that continually evolves, we can transform how officers work, and in turn, strengthen the communities they serve.
If you’ve served in policing and are wondering about moving into tech, don’t count yourself out. Your experience is invaluable. And if you’re mission-driven, you’ll find real purpose in this side of the work.
Want to learn more? We’re growing fast and hiring for Engineering roles in the UK. Explore open roles on our Careers Page.
