Kenneth Oxford
Encyclopedia
Sir Kenneth Gordon Oxford CBE
, QPM
(25 June 1924 – 23 November 1998) was a senior British
police officer and chief constable
of Merseyside Police
from 1976 to 1989.
, London
, and educated at the Caldecott School, Lambeth
. He joined the Royal Air Force
in 1942 and served with RAF Bomber Command
in south east Asia
until 1947.
after leaving the RAF, and within six months was promoted to detective with the CID. In 1961 Oxford, by then a sergeant, was bagman to Superintendent Basil (Bob) Acott in the A6 Murder investigation that led to the conviction of James Hanratty
. In 1963 he took part in the Profumo affair
investigation, arresting Christine Keeler
on suspicion of perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
In 1966 Superintendent Oxford led the search for the stolen football world cup. The trophy was eventually found by Pickles
, a mongrel dog, while being walked by his owner.
In 1969 Oxford joined Northumbria Police
as assistant chief constable. He was appointed deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police
in 1974, and became chief constable in 1976. His tenure saw major conflicts between the police and sections of the local community, culminating in the 1981 Toxteth riots, in which he frequently came into conflict with local criminals and politicians such as Margaret Simey
.
Oxford was knighted in 1988, and retired from the force the following year.
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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...
, QPM
Queen's Police Medal
The 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...
(25 June 1924 – 23 November 1998) was a senior 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 officer and 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 Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
from 1976 to 1989.
Early life
Kenneth Oxford was born in CamberwellCamberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
, 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...
, and educated at the Caldecott School, Lambeth
Lambeth
Lambeth is a district of south London, England, and part of the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated southeast of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:...
. He joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
in 1942 and served with RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command
RAF Bomber Command controlled the RAF's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. During World War II the command destroyed a significant proportion of Nazi Germany's industries and many German cities, and in the 1960s stood at the peak of its postwar military power with the V bombers and a supplemental...
in south east Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
until 1947.
Police career
Oxford 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...
after leaving the RAF, and within six months was promoted to detective with the CID. In 1961 Oxford, by then a sergeant, was bagman to Superintendent Basil (Bob) Acott in the A6 Murder investigation that led to the conviction of James Hanratty
James Hanratty
James Hanratty , a petty criminal with no history of violence, was the eighth-to-last person in the United Kingdom to be hanged after being convicted of the murder of Michael Gregsten at Deadman's Hill on the A6, near the village of Clophill, Bedfordshire, England, on 23 August 1961...
. In 1963 he took part in the Profumo affair
Profumo Affair
The Profumo Affair was a 1963 British political scandal named after John Profumo, Secretary of State for War. His affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Russian spy, followed by lying in the House of Commons when he was questioned about it, forced the resignation of...
investigation, arresting Christine Keeler
Christine Keeler
Christine Margaret Keeler is an English former model and showgirl. Her involvement with a British government minister discredited the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan in 1963, in what is known as the Profumo Affair....
on suspicion of perjury and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
In 1966 Superintendent Oxford led the search for the stolen football world cup. The trophy was eventually found by Pickles
Pickles (dog)
Pickles was a black and white Collie dog renowned for his role in finding the stolen Jules Rimet Trophy in 1966.- Overview :The trophy had been stolen during a rare public stamp exhibition at Westminster Central Hall, on the afternoon of Sunday 20 March, just four months before the 1966 FIFA World...
, a mongrel dog, while being walked by his owner.
In 1969 Oxford joined Northumbria Police
Northumbria Police
Northumbria Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the areas of Northumberland and Tyne and Wear in North East England. The service is the sixth largest police force in England and Wales. The current Chief Constable is Sue Sim who was appointed by Northumbria Police...
as assistant chief constable. He was appointed deputy chief constable of Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police
Merseyside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing Merseyside in North West England. The force area is 647 square kilometres with a population of around 1.5 million...
in 1974, and became chief constable in 1976. His tenure saw major conflicts between the police and sections of the local community, culminating in the 1981 Toxteth riots, in which he frequently came into conflict with local criminals and politicians such as Margaret Simey
Margaret Simey
Margaret Bayne Todd was a political and social campaigner born in Glasgow, but is usually more associated with Liverpool, settling there in the 1920s and becoming the first woman to achieve a degree in sociology...
.
Oxford was knighted in 1988, and retired from the force the following year.
External links
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