Ronald Howe
Encyclopedia
Sir Ronald Martin Howe CVO
MC
(5 September 1896–30 August 1977) was an English
barrister
and police
officer in the London
Metropolitan Police
.
Howe was the son of a journalist
. He was educated at Westminster School
, where he was head boy
, and Christ Church, Oxford
. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
in 1915 and served until 1919. He was wounded in 1917, was promoted Acting Captain
in December 1917, won the Military Cross
(MC) in 1918 as a company commander with the 7th Battalion, and was promoted Temporary Captain in September 1918. He resigned his commission in April 1920.
In 1924, he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
and joined the staff of the Director of Public Prosecutions
. In February 1932, he was appointed Chief Constable
(CID
) in the Metropolitan Police, so that there were briefly two CID Chief Constables (John Ashley being the other). He was, however, promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner
(CID) on 1 November 1933 and served in the post until 1945, when he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C" (Crime)
. In 1953, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
. He retired on 20 January 1957. From 1945 to 1957, he also served as British Representative on the International Criminal Police Commission. After his retirement, he became chairman of Group 4 Total Security. In 1976 he retired from that post too, becoming the company's president.
Howe was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1950 and was knighted
in 1955.
He wrote The Pursuit of Crime (1961) and The Story of Scotland Yard (1965).
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(5 September 1896–30 August 1977) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and 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...
.
Howe was the son of a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was educated at Westminster School
Westminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, where he was head boy
Head boy
Head Boy and Head Girl are terms commonly used in the British education system, and in private schools throughout the Commonwealth.-United Kingdom:...
, and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment
Royal Sussex Regiment
The Royal Sussex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1966. The regiment was formed as part of the Childers reforms by the amalgamation of the 35th Regiment of Foot and the 107th Regiment of Foot...
in 1915 and served until 1919. He was wounded in 1917, was promoted Acting Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
in December 1917, won the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(MC) in 1918 as a company commander with the 7th Battalion, and was promoted Temporary Captain in September 1918. He resigned his commission in April 1920.
In 1924, he was called to the bar by the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and joined the staff of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world...
. In February 1932, he was appointed 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...
(CID
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
) in the Metropolitan Police, so that there were briefly two CID Chief Constables (John Ashley being the other). He was, however, 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...
(CID) on 1 November 1933 and served in the post until 1945, when he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C" (Crime)
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...
. In 1953, he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, commonly referred to simply as the Deputy Commissioner, is the second-in-command of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The rank is senior to Assistant Commissioner, but junior by one rank to Commissioner...
. He retired on 20 January 1957. From 1945 to 1957, he also served as British Representative on the International Criminal Police Commission. After his retirement, he became chairman of Group 4 Total Security. In 1976 he retired from that post too, becoming the company's president.
Howe was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 1950 and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1955.
He wrote The Pursuit of Crime (1961) and The Story of Scotland Yard (1965).