Jock Wilson (police officer)
Encyclopedia
John Spark Wilson CBE
(9 May 1922–15 September 1993), known as Jock Wilson, was a British
police
officer in the London
Metropolitan Police
.
Wilson was brought up in Dundee
. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
in 1946 and joined Special Branch
, in which he was to spend over twenty years, in 1948. Promoted Detective Chief Superintendent in 1968, he was in charge of security for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales
at Caernarfon Castle
in 1969, which was threatened by Welsh nationalists. In 1969 he was promoted to Commander
and took command of Special Branch. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 Birthday Honours.
In 1972 he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner
(Crime) and on 17 May 1975 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C"
(Crime). In 1977 he was transferred as Assistant Commissioner "B" (Traffic), holding the post until his retirement in 1982. He then served as Director of the Security and Investigation Service of T. Miller & Co until 1987. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979.
Order of the British Empire
The 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...
(9 May 1922–15 September 1993), known as Jock Wilson, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan 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...
.
Wilson was brought up in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
. He joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
in 1946 and joined Special Branch
Special Branch
Special Branch is a label customarily used to identify units responsible for matters of national security in British and Commonwealth police forces, as well as in the Royal Thai Police...
, in which he was to spend over twenty years, in 1948. Promoted Detective Chief Superintendent in 1968, he was in charge of security for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales
Investiture of the Prince of Wales
The Investiture of the Prince of Wales is the ceremony marking the formal creation of the title of Prince of Wales, similar to a coronation. An Investiture is not required for the Princes of Wales, as the title is created via Letters patent, and consequently the ceremony is for formal purposes...
at Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle
Caernarfon Castle is a medieval building in Gwynedd, north-west Wales. There was a motte-and-bailey castle in the town of Caernarfon from the late 11th century until 1283 when King Edward I of England began replacing it with the current stone structure...
in 1969, which was threatened by Welsh nationalists. In 1969 he was promoted to Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
and took command of Special Branch. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1969 Birthday Honours.
In 1972 he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy assistant commissioner is a rank in London's Metropolitan Police Service between assistant commissioner and commander. It is equivalent to deputy chief constable in other British police forces and wears the same insignia: a pip above crossed tipstaves within a wreath.The rank was introduced...
(Crime) and on 17 May 1975 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C"
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
(Crime). In 1977 he was transferred as Assistant Commissioner "B" (Traffic), holding the post until his retirement in 1982. He then served as Director of the Security and Investigation Service of T. Miller & Co until 1987. He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1979.