Joseph Simpson

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Sir Joseph Simpson KBE KPFSM (1909–20 March 1968), commonly known as Joe Simpson to his men, was Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, the head of the London Metropolitan Police, from 1958 to 1968. He was the first Commissioner who began his police career as an ordinary Constable.

Simpson was born in Dawley, Shropshire^[1] and educated at Ashdown House and Oundle School, where he was captain of football and athletics and was Public Schools Champion in long jump in 1927 and 1928, when he set a public school record, and also in 440 yards in 1928. He then went on to Manchester University College of Technology. He represented the university at rugby and athletics and was World's University Champion in the 400 metre hurdles in 1930. He also played cricket and was a good rifle shot (as Commissioner he was a great supporter of sport in the police). After working in the cotton industry for a short period he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1931 and was posted to "X" Division (Wembley), and later to "E" Division (Bow Street). In 1934 he was selected by competitive examination to attend the first course of thirty students at Hendon Police College, beginning the course on 10 May,^[2] and was promoted to Acting Station Inspector on graduation at the top of his class in 1936, when he became an instructor at the college.^[3]

In 1937, Simpson was called to the Bar by Gray's Inn. In July the same year he left the Metropolitan Police to become Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Constabulary.^[4] In 1939 he was seconded to the Regional Commissioner's Offices for Nottinghamshire and then for Cambridgeshire and in 1943 was appointed Chief Constable of Northumberland Constabulary. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1946 New Year Honours for his services to civil defence.^[5] He transferred as Chief Constable to Surrey Constabulary later in 1946. He was awarded the King's Police and Fire Services Medal in the 1952 New Year Honours.^[6]

On 1 March 1956, Simpson rejoined the Metropolitan Police as Assistant Commissioner "B", in charge of traffic policing.^[7] On 20 January 1957 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner,^[8] and on 1 September 1958 he became Commissioner.^[1][9] He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1959 New Year Honours.^[10]

Simpson was a fair and tolerant man, but also expected the same high standards of others that he set for himself and was a great believer in discipline. He believed in a more equal police force, where senior officers and lower ranks had a closer relationship. This was somewhat marred by the promotion of fellow Hendon graduates as Deputy Commissioner and all four Assistant Commissioners (the short-lived Hendon experiment never having been popular with most officers), although in actual fact these appointments were made by the Crown on the advice of the Home Secretary. He strove, with some success, to improve the deteriorating relationship between the police and the public and encouraged the public to "have a go" against crime (although he did issue a warning against tackling armed criminals). He was an enthusiastic supporter of crim prevention and the use of police dogs, and also greatly expanded the Police Cadets. He established the Obscene Publications Squad, Drugs Squad (1963), Special Patrol Group (1961), Art Squad (1967), and Antiques and Philately Squad (1967), laid the foundations for the Scenes of Crime Branch established shortly after his death, and greatly expanded the Flying Squad. He introduced personal radios and the Unit Beat system (1967), whereby the use of panda cars was greatly expanded for patrol purposes. He reorganised the Metropolitan Special Constabulary to integrate them more into the divisions. He introduced traffic wardens and fixed penalty parking fines.

He married Elizabeth May Bowler in 1936. They had two sons, one of whom, Mark, joined the British South Africa Police in Rhodesia, only to be dismissed in 1963 after refusing to be transferred from the Criminal Investigation Department back to the uniformed branch.^[11]

Simpson was expected to retire in 1964, but to everyone's surprise stayed in office. He died suddenly at his home in Roehampton four years later at the age of 58, his early death probably brought on by stress caused by overwork. His funeral was held with full honours at Westminster Abbey on 29 March 1968,^[12] with all Metropolitan Police officers who were able to do so obseving a one minute's silence at 11am.^[13]

Police Appointments
Preceded by William Trigg	Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire 1937–1943	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Chief Constable of Northumberland 1943–1946	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Chief Constable of Surrey 1946–1956	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Sir Henry Dalton	Assistant Commissioner "B", Metropolitan Police 1956–1957	Succeeded by Douglas Webb
Preceded by Sir Ronald Howe	Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1957–1958	Succeeded by Alexander Robertson
Preceded by Sir John Nott-Bower	Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1958–1968	Succeeded by Sir John Waldron

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• Obituary, The Times, 21 March 1968
• Martin Fido and Keith Skinner, The Official Encyclopedia of Scotland Yard, London, 1999