David McNee
Sir David McNee QPM | |
|---|---|
| Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis | |
| In office 13 March 1977 – 1 October 1982 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | James Callaghan Margaret Thatcher |
| Preceded by | Sir Robert Mark |
| Succeeded by | Sir Kenneth Newman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | David Blackstock McNee 23 March 1925 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 26 April 2019 (aged 94) Glasgow, Scotland |
| Spouse(s) | Isabel Hopkins (1952–1997) Lilian Campbell (m.2002) |
| Profession | Police officer |
Sir David Blackstock McNee
Early life
Born in
In 1946, McNee began his career in the police when he joined the
Metropolitan Police Commissioner
McNee had commanded the second largest police force in Britain in Strathclyde and was now in charge of the largest. His lengthy experience as a low-ranking beat officer in Glasgow, however, was at odds with the academic and theoretical training he had received at Bramshill in the Senior Officers's course. Determined to improve the working conditions of London's beat bobbies, McNee implemented several reforms to the Metropolitan Police, some of which would be further refined by his successors.
Iranian Embassy Siege
One of the most dramatic incidents to occur during McNee's time with the Metropolitan Police was the siege of the Iranian Embassy in 1980. McNee and the Met were praised for their response and actions during the siege, however, when the first hostage was shot, McNee immediately handed control of the operation over to the British Army, who deployed the Special Air Service to storm the building and resolve the situation.
Brixton Riots
One of the most serious riots in London of the 20th century took place in
Initially McNee alleged the rioting was not spontaneous but organised outside the Brixton area by extremist left-wing militants; however, no evidence of a prior conspiracy to trigger the riot was uncovered by
Buckingham Palace incident
On 9 July 1982, a man later identified as
Operation Countryman
The investigation into corruption amongst City of London Police officers and Metropolitan Police officers known as Operation Countryman occurred predominantly during McNee's tenure. McNee was very critical of the conduct of the investigation, in particular that the investigation team would not pass him evidence relating to complaints made against his police officers. Asst. Chief Constable Leonard Burt told his investigation team not to pass any evidence it obtained against Metropolitan Police officers to the Met Commissioner, Sir 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 willfully obstructed by Commissioner McNee and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Sir Tony Hetherington.
Later life
McNee was knighted in 1978, and remained as Metropolitan Police Commissioner for five years until his retirement in 1982. He published his memoirs, McNee's Law, in 1983.
Personal life
As an infant, McNee was baptized at
McNee married Isabel Clayton Hopkins (later Isabel, Lady McNee) in 1952. They had one daughter. In his memoirs, McNee said of his wife: "During our marriage Isabel always put my needs as a police officer first. She has never failed me." Like her husband, she was a devout Christian, and was involved in several charitable endeavours. In her later years, Isabel suffered from various blood disorders, and she died of
In 2002, aged 77, McNee married Lillian Campbell, 56, the widow of a close friend, Norman Campbell, who had died the previous year.[10]
Sir David McNee died at his home, at age 94.[11]
Publications
- McNee, David (1983). McNee's Law: The Memoirs Of Sir David McNee, Five Critical Years At The Metropolitan Police. London: Collins. ISBN 0-00-217007-8.
References
- ^ Obituaries 'Sir David McNee Glasgow-born Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police at a turbulent time of strikes, the Brixton riots and the Iranian embassy siege' The Daily Telegraph p 25 Issue no 51,002(dated Thursday 9 May 2019)
- ^ "Sir David McNee obituary". the Guardian. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ a b "Obituary: Sir David McNee, Glaswegian who became commissioner of the Metropolitan Police". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ISBN 0-00-217007-8.
- ^ "Oral Histories". www.runnymedetrust.org. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ "1982: Queen fends off bedroom intruder". 9 July 1982. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
- ^ House of Lords Hansard: 8 Jun 2006: Column 1452.
- ^ Glasgow Battalion, The Boys' Brigade, bbglasgow.org.uk, 5 February 2022.
- ^ Russell, George: Lady Isabel McNee, The Herald, 4 September 1997.
- ^ "Power of the Masons - Myth of Menace?". Sunday People. 13 July 1986.
- ^ "David B. Mc Nee". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
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