Meet the Team
Investigations, Gun Crime Intelligence and Firearms Focal Points
Paul James, Ba (hons) Msc
Paul is the Co-Founder of Arquebus Europe. He is an experienced law enforcement professional who prior to founding Arquebus Europe had a 30 year career in UK policing. Up until the date of his retirement as a Police officer in 2012 he was the chair of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Criminal Use of Firearms (CUF) practitioner group, the Deputy Chair of the ACPO CUF Threat Reduction Board and a member of the Homicide Working Group. He authored the UK Investigative guide on best practice in investigating gun crime on behalf of the UK Government.
Between 2006 and 2012 he was the Unit Head of the UK National Ballistics Intelligence Service (NABIS). He was involved in the establishment of NABIS from its outset and oversaw its development from concept to an operational unit. During this time the recorded levels of gun crime in the UK reduced by over 50%.
He has a wealth of experience of developing innovative solutions to tackle all aspects of firearms related criminality that are based on the specific needs of the client and has contributed to a number of high profile international research projects aimed at tackling the criminal use of firearms in the role of expert consultant.
Paul believes in leading by example and is committed to working in partnership with law enforcement agencies, governments and international bodies to develop world leading tools and strategies that keep pace with the changing dynamics in the battle to tackle the illegal use and supply of firearms. The whole ethos of Arquebus Europe since its inception has been to make communities safer and to improve the quality of life for all citizens by reducing the scourge of gun crime. Paul is committed to turning this mission statement into a reality.
Firearms Control and Police use of Firearms
Adrian Whiting, QPM AIExpE
Adrian specialises in reviewing, inspecting and advising on controls of small arms & light weapons (SALW), ammunition and explosives with particular regard to registries. He has worked in this type of role since August 2013, on international projects including a feasibility study linking SALW control systems across a number of countries in southeast and eastern Europe for UNDP. He has also worked for OSCE on harmonising international standards for the permanent deactivation of SALW and wrote the recently adopted OSCE Best Practice Guidance in this field. He continues to assist OSCE on SALW related projects, as part of an international team.
Prior to August 2013 he was the UK’s Chief Police Officer (Assistant Chief Constable) responsible for firearms & explosives controls. He held that responsibility for a number of years, advising the UK Government on domestic controls and working with the UK Border Policing Command on the development of import and export controls. This included operational work to counter illicit arms trafficking and working with senior police colleagues on the disruption of firearms related organised crime, including diversion, in conjunction with leading industry representatives.
Adrian served concurrently as a specialist counter-terrorism cadre firearms commander, working closely with military colleagues in sensitive operations.
Firearms Focal Points, Small Arms Control and Research
Callum Lloyd, BA (hons) MSc (hons)
Callum is the Senior Project & Research Coordinator at Arquebus Europe. He holds an MSc in Development & Security with distinction from the University of Bristol; receiving the SPAIS award for the highest overall grade in his cohort. During his studies, Callum’s research focus centred upon conflict studies, insecurity and foreign policy analysis.
This academic background brings an intimate knowledge of conflict, security and development to the Arquebus Europe team, in addition to research skills which allow Arquebus Europe and its clients to best understand emerging trends in SALW criminality, the impacts of SALW on security and development, and how Arquebus Europe’s specialist knowledge and capabilities can be leveraged to create positive social impact.
Callum’s experience ranges from developing SOPs for the Firearms Focal Points of the Western Balkans on behalf of UNDP SEESAC, to coordinating and undertaking EU-funded research projects to assess the implementation and capabilities of National Firearms Focal Points and SALW recordkeeping and information exchange systems for ISF projects FOCAL-SF and REGISYNC. Callum is currently Arquebus Europe’s lead on ISF-Protect funded Project VISTA on improving the intelligence picture regarding illicit firearms incidents and seizures, and Project FOCAL-SF-II on strengthening the implementation of NFFPs in Europe.
In addition to guest speaking at conferences held by the European Commission, EMPACT, the EFE and SEEFEN, Callum has also designed and delivered training and workshops in Africa and the Caribbean for UNLIREC and CARICOM IMPACS, in addition to guest lecturing on the impacts of SALW on international security at the University of Bristol’s Global Insecurity Centre. In his spare time, Callum volunteers as a UG and PG mentor for the University of Bristol’s School of Politics and International Studies.
Project & Research Coordinator
Isabella hussell, Bsc (hons) MSc (hons)
Isabella is the Project & Research Coordinator at Arquebus Europe. She holds a BSc in Psychology and a MSc in Development & Security from the University of Bristol, graduating with Honours and receiving the award for the highest overall academic performance in her cohort. Her postgraduate research centred on the nuanced intersection between conflict, security, and development, with a particular focus on European security, gender and security, and the socio-political-economic dimensions of war.
Following her MSc, Isabella was selected for the OSCE Scholarship for Peace & Security, an intensive programme focused on non-proliferation and disarmament as tools for sustainable conflict prevention in the OSCE region. This experience further strengthened her expertise in multilateral security policy and the strategic dimensions of arms control.
Isabella’s academic background equips her with a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to research and analysis. Her training has honed advanced qualitative and quantitative research skills along with excellent report writing skills. These strengths support Arquebus Europe’s capacity to deliver robust research, in-depth analysis, and high-quality reporting that supports evidence-based decision-making in the field of small arms and light weapons (SALW) non-proliferation.
At Arquebus, Isabella is working across two European Commission funded projects under the ISF-Protect initiative: Project VISTA, aimed at enhancing the intelligence picture regarding illicit firearms incidents and seizures, and Project FOCAL-SF-II, focused on strengthening the implementation of NFFPs across Europe and neighbouring jurisdictions.
