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In The Office of Constable
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 10, 2021
Robert Mark, later knighted, was the Metropolitan Police commissioner who, during the 1970s, was brought in to confront the rampant and brazen corruption among officers in London. Soho porn barons were paying senior detectives to stay open and be able to sell hard-core material, while other detectives were colluding with robbers to fix evidence and not oppose bail.
This autobiography is Mark's account of his career, culminating in his battle with CID. It details his early years as a constable in Manchester, his military service and rise to become Leicester chief constable. He believed in the uniformed officer and had no time for the elitism of London's plainclothes detectives. He could also see that the public would never have confidence in the integrity of the police while CID officers could investigate allegations of wrongdoing against their mates.
Newspaper exposés about police corruption prompted the Home Office to do something to shake up the Met. As an outsider, Mark was resented and bullish, famously saying the police should be arresting more criminals than they employed. Among his reforms was the establishment of A10 (perhaps an inspiration for Line of Duty's A12), a team of handpicked uniformed and detective officers to henceforth probe corruption allegations. Accountability and scrutiny of CID was improved. High-profile detectives were jailed and hundreds of detectives forced out of the service during Mark's time.
This is a fascinating and well-written account. Mark did not defeat corruption – it's probably far worse and more sophisticated today than it was in the 70s – but his attempt to shake-up the bent culture was laudable, long overdue and partially effective. In terms of personality, Mark is a little more difficult to warm to, leaning towards a rather militaristic approach to policing (expanding the role of the Special Patrol Group) and showing disdain for protestors, the Labour government and trade unionists (he supports the jailing of the Shrewsbury pickets, who in March 2021 had their convictions overturned after a 50-year campaign).
Still, this is a landmark account of Mark's determined effort to clean up the Met – a battle waged that has probably not been equalled by any succeeding commissioner.
This autobiography is Mark's account of his career, culminating in his battle with CID. It details his early years as a constable in Manchester, his military service and rise to become Leicester chief constable. He believed in the uniformed officer and had no time for the elitism of London's plainclothes detectives. He could also see that the public would never have confidence in the integrity of the police while CID officers could investigate allegations of wrongdoing against their mates.
Newspaper exposés about police corruption prompted the Home Office to do something to shake up the Met. As an outsider, Mark was resented and bullish, famously saying the police should be arresting more criminals than they employed. Among his reforms was the establishment of A10 (perhaps an inspiration for Line of Duty's A12), a team of handpicked uniformed and detective officers to henceforth probe corruption allegations. Accountability and scrutiny of CID was improved. High-profile detectives were jailed and hundreds of detectives forced out of the service during Mark's time.
This is a fascinating and well-written account. Mark did not defeat corruption – it's probably far worse and more sophisticated today than it was in the 70s – but his attempt to shake-up the bent culture was laudable, long overdue and partially effective. In terms of personality, Mark is a little more difficult to warm to, leaning towards a rather militaristic approach to policing (expanding the role of the Special Patrol Group) and showing disdain for protestors, the Labour government and trade unionists (he supports the jailing of the Shrewsbury pickets, who in March 2021 had their convictions overturned after a 50-year campaign).
Still, this is a landmark account of Mark's determined effort to clean up the Met – a battle waged that has probably not been equalled by any succeeding commissioner.
January 27, 2023
A great account of policing from a bygone era.
Sir Robert was clearly ahead of his time given that many of his suggestions have since been implemented into law and procedure.
At times his account was hard to read, purely on vocabulary chosen. This book is less car chases and thief taking and more about the bureaucracy faced by chief police officers trying to do the job.
Sir Robert was clearly ahead of his time given that many of his suggestions have since been implemented into law and procedure.
At times his account was hard to read, purely on vocabulary chosen. This book is less car chases and thief taking and more about the bureaucracy faced by chief police officers trying to do the job.
September 9, 2017
Cleaned out the then corrupt Met CID
September 28, 2021
Memoir about the first London Metropolitan Police Commissioner to be recuirted from outside the force.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews