James Anderton

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Sir James Cyril Anderton CBE (born May 24, 1932) is a former British police officer who served as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester from 1975 to 1991. His time in the post was controversial because of his reactionary views.

Born in Wigan and educated in local schools, he served in the military police before joining the civil force in 1953. He rose rapidly through the police ranks, studying criminology at the Victoria University of Manchester and gaining a reputation as a tough but thoughtful chief officer. He was Deputy Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary.

His appointment as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester was announced on October 23, 1975. While always popular with his force, Anderton frequently courted public controversy with his outspoken views on policing and morality. As a professed Christian who claimed to speak with the supreme being regularly and who characterized himself to be an instrument of divine judgment,[1] Anderton came to be known as "God's Cop". He was often in conflict with the city's political leadership during the 1980s, especially over his ultra conservative views on AIDS: he referred to those with AIDS as "swirling in a cesspit of their own making"[2].

In 1986 he was embroiled in national political controversy when his deputy John Stalker was suspended over seemingly trivial allegations of misconduct when on the point of completing an official report critical of the policing policies of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

He married Joan Baron and the couple have one daughter. They live in Sale. Since retirement, Anderton has spent his time working for various charities and with young offenders, and supporting the Salvation Army.