John Nott-Bower

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Sir John Reginald Hornby Nott-Bower KCVO KPM OStJ (March 1892–3 October 1972) was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the head of the London Metropolitan Police, from 1953 to 1958. He was the first career police officer to hold this post.

Nott-Bower was the son of William Nott-Bower, then Chief Constable of Liverpool and later Commissioner of the City of London Police. He was educated at Tonbridge School and joined the Indian Police Service by competitive examination in 1911. He was posted to the United Provinces and served there until 1921, when he returned to England to work at the India Office in London. On 1 May 1922 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. In 1923 he returned to the United Provinces as a Superintendent. He commanded successively Allahabad, Lucknow and Bareilly districts, and also served in the Criminal Investigation Department. He was awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) for bravery after he confronted two armed terrorists on 27 February 1931, after they had shot him in the arm. One of the terrorists, who was one of the most wanted men in India, was shot dead and the other arrested.

On 29 June 1933, Nott-Bower joined the Metropolitan Police as Chief Constable (deputy commander) of No.1 District (West End, Wandsworth and Hammersmith). On 1 December 1933 he was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner in command of the district. On 23 July 1937 he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

On 1 September 1940, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "A", in charge of administration and uniformed policing. From 1945 to 1946 he was seconded to Austria as Inspector-General of the Public Safety Branch of the Allied Control Commission, and later as Director of the Internal Affairs Division of the Commission. On his return he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner. He was made an Officer of the Order of St John on 24 June 1949 and was knighted on 8 June 1950.

On 13 August 1953, Nott-Bower was appointed Commissioner. He was also raised to Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). Although he had been a popular and energetic Assistant and Deputy Commissioner, he was regarded as a somewhat lacklustre Commissioner. He introduced few reforms or innovations. He did set up the Research and Planning Branch and the Metropolitan and Provincial Regional Crime Squad and centralised traffic control in response to rising private car ownership. He did little to combat the rising crime rate, however; he refused to address the outdated hardline attitudes of many senior detectives, which were becoming increasingly out of step with postwar society; and he did not support his men in their claims for better pay and conditions. Police pay fell rapidly below inflation and rates of pay in the private sector. This caused recruiting problems and the force became seriously under strength. Nott-Bower was regarded by many of his officers as a pleasant but ineffectual man. He retired in August 1958.

In April 1960, Nott-Bower became Chairman of the Auto Call Company, a fire alarm manufacturer.

Nott-Bower was a skilled horseman and polo player. He played rugby for Tonbridge School and golf for the Metropolitan Police and Mid-Surrey. He was also very fond of bridge and fly fishing.

Nott-Bower married Kathleen Buck in 1928. They had two sons and a daughter.

Police Appointments
Preceded by James Whitehead	Chief Constable, No.1 District, Metropolitan Police 1933	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by George Abbiss	Deputy Assistant Commissioner, No.1 District, Metropolitan Police 1933–1940	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by John Carter	Assistant Commissioner "A", Metropolitan Police 1940–1945	Succeeded by John Ferguson
Preceded by Sir Maurice Drummond	Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1946–1953	Succeeded by Ronald Howe
Preceded by Sir Harold Scott	Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1953–1958	Succeeded by Joseph Simpson