Operation Countryman
Encyclopedia
Operation Countryman was a wide-ranging investigation into police corruption within the Metropolitan Police Service
in London
from 1978-1984. After being initially established to investigate allegations of corruption in the City of London Police
, the main investigation was soon shifted to Metropolitan Police. More than 400 police officers lost their jobs but none were charged with any criminal offences.
criminals in the early 1970s, attention shifted to corruption within all of London
's police forces. Numerous dismissals continued to happen to stop the ongoing problem. But the situation deteriorated when articles appeared in the press alleging collusion between armed robbery gangs and high-ranking officers in specialised units such as the Flying Squad
, the Regional Crime Squad
and the Criminal Intelligence Branch (C11).
In response the Home Office
, in conjunction with the Met Police Commissioner
Sir Robert Mark
, appointed the Assistant Chief Constable
of Dorset Constabulary, Leonard Burt
to investigate the allegations. The decision was seen to be more prudent by assigning an external regional police force to the investigation. This would make it an independent investigation that was outside the auspices of the Metropolitan police's own internal investigations unit.
outside the Metropolitan Police District
.
Operation Countryman faced massive obstruction from both senior management and the lower ranks of the police. Much of the investigation's evidence was obtained by police officers going undercover as police officers. Such was the scale of the inquiry, after an initial deployment of 200 officers officers, dozens more were seconded to Countryman.
Asst.Chief Constable Leonard Burt told his investigation team not to pass any evidence it obtained against Metropolitan Police officers to the Met Commissioner, David McNee
. Shortly before his retirement in February 1980, the Chief Constable
of Dorset Constabulary, Arthur Hambleton, the superior of Burt, made allegations that Countryman had been wilfully obstructed by Commissioner McNee and Director of Public Prosecutions
Sir Thomas Hetherington
. In May 1980 Leonard Burt returned to Dorset Constabulary and responsibility for Countryman passed to Sir Peter Matthews, Chief Constable
of Surrey Constabulary. He ordered that all evidence already compiled during the investigation be passed to the Metropolitan Police to be dealt with by their own internal investigation unit.
Despite Countryman's recommendation that over 300 officers should face criminal charges, no officer was ever charged with a criminal offence as a result of the investigation.
Questions asked in the British Parliament have, on several occasions, called on the Home Secretary
to publicly release the findings of Operation Countryman, but such requests have been refused as these are protected by public interest immunity.
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
in 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...
from 1978-1984. After being initially established to investigate allegations of corruption in the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
, the main investigation was soon shifted to Metropolitan Police. More than 400 police officers lost their jobs but none were charged with any criminal offences.
Background
After several high-profile scandals involving the bribery of vice-squad officers by SohoSoho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
criminals in the early 1970s, attention shifted to corruption within all of 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...
's police forces. Numerous dismissals continued to happen to stop the ongoing problem. But the situation deteriorated when articles appeared in the press alleging collusion between armed robbery gangs and high-ranking officers in specialised units such as the Flying Squad
Flying Squad
The Flying Squad is a branch of the Specialist Crime Directorate, within London's Metropolitan Police Service. The Squad's purpose is to investigate commercial armed robberies, along with the prevention and investigation of other serious armed crime...
, the Regional Crime Squad
National Crime Squad
The National Crime Squad was a British police organisation which dealt mainly with organised and major crimes. Formed in April 1998 after the amalgamation of six former Regional Crime Squads it merged on 1 April 2006 into the Serious Organised Crime Agency. The NCS reported directly to the Home...
and the Criminal Intelligence Branch (C11).
In response the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
, in conjunction with the Met Police Commissioner
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer...
Sir Robert Mark
Robert Mark
Sir Robert Mark, GBE, QPM was an English police officer who served as Chief Constable of Leicester City Police, and later as Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1972 to 1977....
, appointed the Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant Chief Constable
Assistant chief constable is the third highest rank in all British territorial police forces , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and...
of Dorset Constabulary, Leonard Burt
Leonard Burt
Leonard Burt, CVO, CBE was a British police officer, involved in several high-profile cases and investigations.In May 1938, Suffolk businessman William Murfitt was murdered by poisoning at his home in Risby, Suffolk. Burt was one of a pair of detectives sent from Scotland Yard to investigate the...
to investigate the allegations. The decision was seen to be more prudent by assigning an external regional police force to the investigation. This would make it an independent investigation that was outside the auspices of the Metropolitan police's own internal investigations unit.
Operation Countryman
In August 1978, a team of 200 officers began its investigations into corruption within the London police services. The unit was initially accommodated at Camberwell Police Station in south London. But following attempts to interfere with the team's documents, records and evidence, it moved to Godalming Police Station in SurreySurrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
outside the Metropolitan Police District
Metropolitan Police District
The Metropolitan Police District is the police area which is policed by London's Metropolitan Police Service. It currently consists of Greater London, excluding the City of London.-History:...
.
Operation Countryman faced massive obstruction from both senior management and the lower ranks of the police. Much of the investigation's evidence was obtained by police officers going undercover as police officers. Such was the scale of the inquiry, after an initial deployment of 200 officers officers, dozens more were seconded to Countryman.
Asst.Chief Constable Leonard Burt told his investigation team not to pass any evidence it obtained against Metropolitan Police officers to the Met Commissioner, David McNee
David McNee
Sir David Blackstock McNee, QPM was Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1977 to 1982 and Chief Constable of the City of Glasgow Police from 1971 to 1977.-Early life:...
. Shortly before his retirement in February 1980, 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 Dorset Constabulary, Arthur Hambleton, the superior of Burt, made allegations that Countryman had been wilfully obstructed by Commissioner McNee and Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales)
The Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales is a senior prosecutor, appointed by the Attorney General. First created in 1879, the office was unified with that of the Treasury Solicitor less than a decade later before again becoming independent in 1908...
Sir Thomas Hetherington
Thomas Hetherington
Major Sir Thomas Chalmers Hetherington, KCB, CBE, QC, TD , better known as Sir Tony Hetherington, was a British barrister. He was Director of Public Prosecutions of England and Wales from 1977 to 1987, and was the first head of the Crown Prosecution Service for the year after it was founded in...
. In May 1980 Leonard Burt returned to Dorset Constabulary and responsibility for Countryman passed to Sir Peter Matthews, 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 Surrey Constabulary. He ordered that all evidence already compiled during the investigation be passed to the Metropolitan Police to be dealt with by their own internal investigation unit.
Aftermath
After six years, and at a cost of over £4 million, Operation Countryman presented its findings to the Home Office and the Commissioner. Parts of the report were leaked to the public, and it was revealed that over 400 police officers lost their jobs during or after the Countryman investigation.Despite Countryman's recommendation that over 300 officers should face criminal charges, no officer was ever charged with a criminal offence as a result of the investigation.
Questions asked in the British Parliament have, on several occasions, called on the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
to publicly release the findings of Operation Countryman, but such requests have been refused as these are protected by public interest immunity.