Douglas Osmond
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Osmond was the chief constable of Shropshire Constabulary and later Hampshire Constabulary
. He is regarded as one of the first career chief constables in the UK.
in 1935 where he rose to Inspector before joining the Royal Navy
during the Second World War. After the war he returned to the police and was appointed as the chief constable
of Shropshire Constabulary (now part of West Mercia Constabulary
) in 1946. At 32 he was one of the youngest to have achieved this position in the United Kingdom (The youngest was Sir Eric St Johnston who, in 1940 at the of 29, was appointed chief constable of Oxfordshire Constabulary). Equally remarkable was his rise through the ranks at a time when most chief constables were externally appointed.
In 1962 Osmond left to become the chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and in 1967 he presided over it's amalgamation with the Portsmouth and Southampton city forces. At this point the force was renamed Hampshire Constabulary
and Osmond remained chief constable until his retirement from the post in 1977.
He died on 20 April 2006 aged 91.
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
. He is regarded as one of the first career chief constables in the UK.
Biography
Douglas Osmond joined the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in 1935 where he rose to Inspector before joining the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
during the Second World War. After the war he returned to the police and was appointed as the chief constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Shropshire Constabulary (now part of West Mercia Constabulary
West Mercia Constabulary
West Mercia Police, formerly known as West Mercia Constabulary, is the territorial police force responsible for policing the counties of Shropshire , Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. The force area covers making it the fourth largest police area in England and Wales...
) in 1946. At 32 he was one of the youngest to have achieved this position in the United Kingdom (The youngest was Sir Eric St Johnston who, in 1940 at the of 29, was appointed chief constable of Oxfordshire Constabulary). Equally remarkable was his rise through the ranks at a time when most chief constables were externally appointed.
In 1962 Osmond left to become the chief constable of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary and in 1967 he presided over it's amalgamation with the Portsmouth and Southampton city forces. At this point the force was renamed Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
and Osmond remained chief constable until his retirement from the post in 1977.
He died on 20 April 2006 aged 91.
Honours
During his life Osmond received the following honours:- 1958 OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 1962 Queen's Police MedalQueen's Police MedalThe Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
- 1968 CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 1971 Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of JerusalemVenerable Order of Saint JohnThe Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
- 1971 Knighthood
- 1981 Deputy LieutenantDeputy LieutenantIn the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of HampshireHampshireHampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...