James Crane

For the American football coach, see James L. Crane. For the businessman from Houston, Texas, see Jim Crane.

Sir James William Donald Crane, was a senior police officer in the UK with the role of HM Inspector of Constabulary 1976-79.[1] and HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales 1979-82.[2] On Wednesday, 23 July 1980, at Buckingham Palace, the Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood.[3] James had previously been honoured with a CBE in 1977.[4]

Sir James was the commander of the fraud squad in the early 1970s.[5] He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner and it was in this role that he headed the Poulson investigation.[6] Architect John Poulson was at the centre of a massive corruption scandal. In the 1970s this was Britain's biggest ever corruption inquiry.[7] On 19 July 1972, the Metropolitan Police began an investigation for fraud.[8] This precipitated the resignation of Reginald Maudling, then Home Secretary and notionally in charge of the police. In 1973 Crane arrested Poulson[9] who was later convicted.

In 1980 James Crane was involved in important events once more. The Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe was attacking women. There was an explosion of Prime Ministerial fury in the days following the murder of Jacqueline Hill on Tuesday, November 18, 1980. Home Secretary William Whitelaw and several senior officials were told to present themselves in Margaret Thatcher's office to explain what they proposed to do. 'The Prime Minister said that the local police had so far failed totally in their enquiries into a series of murders which constituted the most appalling kind of violence against women, it was now a question of public confidence. There were doubts whether the investigation was being conducted as effectively as it might be, and something needed to be done to restore the faith of the public in ...the police.' William Whitelaw summoned the Chief Inspector-of Police, Sir James Crane, and warned him drastic action was required, immediately. Sir James got straight on to one of his senior inspectors, Lawrence Byford, and told him to get to the headquarters of the West Yorkshire Police first thing in the morning and do whatever he thought necessary.[10]

Born: 01 Jan 1921[11] in Hampshire, England. Died 1994.[12] 3 brothers: Desmond, William and Patrick. Known as Jim to his family.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "Home Office Appointment" (PDF). London Gazette. 9 July 1976. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Appointment of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary" (PDF). House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Publication. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Honours and Awards Supplement" (PDF). London Gazette. 16 September 1980. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "London Gazette Supplement" (PDF). http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/47234/supplements/7088/page.pdf''. 11 June 1977. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Global Finance and Urban Living: A Study of Metropolitan Change. Routledge. 1992. ISBN 041507097X.
  6. ↑ "Heath Faces Shake Up in Cabinet". The Age. 20 July 1972. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kenneth Etheridge obituary". 2 June 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  8. ↑ John Poulson
  9. ↑ "Conning'em No More". Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "How Margaret Thatcher helped catch the Yorkshire Ripper". 3 October 2010. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "The Independent Birthdays". The Independent. 1 January 1994. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  12. ↑ Who Was Who. 2012. ISBN 9780199540891.
  13. ↑ His Great Niece, Samantha Crane


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