Frederick Hanson
Encyclopedia
Frederick John Hanson CBE
(26 May 1914 at Orange, New South Wales
– 26 October 1980 at Terrigal, New South Wales
), was the Commissioner
of the New South Wales Police
from 15 November 1972 until his retirement in 1976.
, the eldest of four children to Ernest Frederick Hanson and Vera Marie Hanson. He did not remain in Orange for long before moving to Burwood, New South Wales
where he was educated at the Christian Brother's Saint Mary's Boy's School. He became a jeweller's assistant before being hired as a porter with the New South Wales Government Railways
. Hanson joined the New South Wales Police on 7 September 1936 at the age of 22 and the next year was posted to Broken Hill, New South Wales
where, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, he married Carole Louise Whitehall with Catholic rites on 9 November 1938. In 1940 Hanson was transferred to plain clothes duties.
. Commissioned on 14 January 1943, Hanson served as a pilot in Britain, the Middle East
and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and was mentioned in despatches. On 30 January 1946 he was demobilized as acting squadron leader and returned to the police.
(first class) while on active service and briefly posted to the vice squad before being transferred to the police air wing as Sergeant
(third class). Such rapid advancement in an organization which was committed to seniority based promotion resulted in a number of appeals. The first appeal was rejected and the remainder were withdrawn which allowed Hanson to overtake more than a thousand other police on the seniority list. After this he became known as 'Slippery'. The air wing was disbanded in 1950 and Hanson then moved to the new Number 21 Mobile Division. He returned to Broken Hill in 1953 and was promoted to Sergeant
(first class) in 1955. Hanson served as an Inspector
(third class) and also officer in charge at Bega, New South Wales
(1959–62) and Wollongong, New South Wales
(1962–64) before moving to the Metropolitan Police District as a Superintendent (third class). After attendance at the Australian Police College in 1963, Hanson rose to Superintendent
(first class) and Assistant Metropolitan Superintendent in 1967.
Hanson was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 1968, Deputy Commissioner on 14 January 1972 and Commissioner on 15 November 1972. That year he also attended the general assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization at Frankfurt, Germany. In 1974 he visited the Australian police contingent at Cyprus
. While Commissioner Hanson introduced merit rating, abolished seniority in executive promotions and also established the crime intelligence unit. By objecting to New South Wales Police Association
attempts to gain greater access to the Industrial Commission of New South Wales he sparked contention. Hanson gained widespread support in 1975 when he initiated aggressive street patrols to counter hoodlum activity, however he failed to control illegal gambling which was to become a major public issue. In 1976 Hanson sued the then Australian Broadcasting Commission for defamation when it had been suggested that he had a financial interest in an illegal casino situated at Gosford, New South Wales
; the case was later settled out of court.
. Further allegations of corruption were made against Hanson in the 1980s. Hanson was a modest however humorous man, he kept his family life extremely private. He was a noted practical joker and esteemed by his subordinates for his genuine interest in their welfare, his readiness to delegate responsibility and his unwillingness to be hindered by red tape. Survived by his wife, Hanson died from carbon monoxide poisoning
by inhalation on the night of 25 to 26 October 1980 at his Terrigal, New South Wales
home; the Coroner
dispensed with an inquest and Hanson was cremated.
Hanson featured prominently in The Prince and the Premier, the 1985 book by investigative journalist David Hickie, which canvassed allegations of corruption against senior NSW government officials—including Premier Robert Askin
-- and senior police including Norman Allan, Fred Hanson and Merv Wood.
Hickie specifically named both Allan and Hanson as corrupt, stating that they knowingly allowed illegal casinos and illegal SP (off-track) betting to flourish in NSW. Citing an "impeccable" and highly-placed source within the illegal gaming empire established by Perc Galea, Hickie alleged that that Askin and his police commissioners, Allan and Hanson, were paid bribes amounting to A$100,000 per year from 1967 until Askin's retirement.
Another informant of Hickie's -- a former croupier at Galea's Double Bay Bridge Club—claimed that $5000 per week from the club was paid in bribes to Hanson and Premier Robert Askin. Hickie also notes that Hanson was among the mourners at Galea's funeral in 1976.
In 1979 independent MLA John Hatton
claimed in the NSW Parliament that Askin and Hanson knew of and may have even encouraged the penetration of Australian crime by "overseas mobsters, gangsters and the Mafia".
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(26 May 1914 at Orange, New South Wales
Orange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
– 26 October 1980 at Terrigal, New South Wales
Terrigal, New South Wales
Terrigal is a major coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located east of Gosford on the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area....
), was the Commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
of the New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
from 15 November 1972 until his retirement in 1976.
Early life & career
Frederick Hanson was born at Orange, New South WalesOrange, New South Wales
Orange is a city in the Central West region of New South Wales, Australia. It is west of the state capital, Sydney, at an altitude of . Orange has an estimated population of 39,329 and the city is a major provincial centre....
, the eldest of four children to Ernest Frederick Hanson and Vera Marie Hanson. He did not remain in Orange for long before moving to Burwood, New South Wales
Burwood, New South Wales
Burwood is a suburb in the inner-west of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Burwood is located 12 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of Burwood Council....
where he was educated at the Christian Brother's Saint Mary's Boy's School. He became a jeweller's assistant before being hired as a porter with the New South Wales Government Railways
New South Wales Government Railways
The New South Wales Government Railways was the government department that operated the New South Wales Government's railways until the establishment of the Public Transport Commission in 1972. Although later known officially as the Department of Railways, New South Wales, it was still generally...
. Hanson joined the New South Wales Police on 7 September 1936 at the age of 22 and the next year was posted to Broken Hill, New South Wales
Broken Hill, New South Wales
-Geology:Broken Hill's massive orebody, which formed about 1,800 million years ago, has proved to be among the world's largest silver-lead-zinc mineral deposits. The orebody is shaped like a boomerang plunging into the earth at its ends and outcropping in the centre. The protruding tip of the...
where, in the Sacred Heart Cathedral, he married Carole Louise Whitehall with Catholic rites on 9 November 1938. In 1940 Hanson was transferred to plain clothes duties.
Military service
Hanson served in the Citizen Air Force from 1932 to 1936 and obtained a private pilot licence in 1939. On 31 January 1942 he was transferred to the Royal Australian Air ForceRoyal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
. Commissioned on 14 January 1943, Hanson served as a pilot in Britain, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
and Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and was mentioned in despatches. On 30 January 1946 he was demobilized as acting squadron leader and returned to the police.
Career progression
Hanson was promoted to the rank of ConstableConstable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
(first class) while on active service and briefly posted to the vice squad before being transferred to the police air wing as Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
(third class). Such rapid advancement in an organization which was committed to seniority based promotion resulted in a number of appeals. The first appeal was rejected and the remainder were withdrawn which allowed Hanson to overtake more than a thousand other police on the seniority list. After this he became known as 'Slippery'. The air wing was disbanded in 1950 and Hanson then moved to the new Number 21 Mobile Division. He returned to Broken Hill in 1953 and was promoted to Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
(first class) in 1955. Hanson served as an Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
(third class) and also officer in charge at Bega, New South Wales
Bega, New South Wales
Bega is a town in the south-east of New South Wales, Australia in the Bega Valley Shire. It is the economic centre for the Bega Valley.-Place name:One claim is that place name Bega is derived from the local Aboriginal word meaning "big camping ground"....
(1959–62) and Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
(1962–64) before moving to the Metropolitan Police District as a Superintendent (third class). After attendance at the Australian Police College in 1963, Hanson rose to Superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
(first class) and Assistant Metropolitan Superintendent in 1967.
Hanson was appointed Assistant Commissioner in 1968, Deputy Commissioner on 14 January 1972 and Commissioner on 15 November 1972. That year he also attended the general assembly of the International Criminal Police Organization at Frankfurt, Germany. In 1974 he visited the Australian police contingent at Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
. While Commissioner Hanson introduced merit rating, abolished seniority in executive promotions and also established the crime intelligence unit. By objecting to New South Wales Police Association
New South Wales Police Association
The Police Association of New South Wales was formed in 1922 and is the industrial association representing over 99 percent of the sworn police officers in the State of New South Wales, Australia. The current president of the association is Scott Weber....
attempts to gain greater access to the Industrial Commission of New South Wales he sparked contention. Hanson gained widespread support in 1975 when he initiated aggressive street patrols to counter hoodlum activity, however he failed to control illegal gambling which was to become a major public issue. In 1976 Hanson sued the then Australian Broadcasting Commission for defamation when it had been suggested that he had a financial interest in an illegal casino situated at Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford, New South Wales
Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of the Sydney central business district...
; the case was later settled out of court.
Retirement
Pressured to resign after adverse publicity, he delayed doing so until he was replaced in 1976 by his preferred successor and air wing colleague Mervyn WoodMervyn Wood
Mervyn Thomas Wood, LVO, MBE, QPM was an Australian rower of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. He was a four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist. He later rose to become the Police Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force.-Biography:Wood was the youngest of four children born in...
. Further allegations of corruption were made against Hanson in the 1980s. Hanson was a modest however humorous man, he kept his family life extremely private. He was a noted practical joker and esteemed by his subordinates for his genuine interest in their welfare, his readiness to delegate responsibility and his unwillingness to be hindered by red tape. Survived by his wife, Hanson died from carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning occurs after enough inhalation of carbon monoxide . Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas, but, being colorless, odorless, tasteless, and initially non-irritating, it is very difficult for people to detect...
by inhalation on the night of 25 to 26 October 1980 at his Terrigal, New South Wales
Terrigal, New South Wales
Terrigal is a major coastal suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, located east of Gosford on the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the City of Gosford local government area....
home; the Coroner
Coroner
A coroner is a government official who* Investigates human deaths* Determines cause of death* Issues death certificates* Maintains death records* Responds to deaths in mass disasters* Identifies unknown dead* Other functions depending on local laws...
dispensed with an inquest and Hanson was cremated.
Corruption allegations
There have been persistent allegations about Fred Hanson's involvement in organised crime, and it has been repeatedly claimed that he corruptly received payments from criminals and that he was the part-owner of an illegal casino at Gosford, in which former detective Ray "Gunner" Kelly is also alleged to have had an interest.Hanson featured prominently in The Prince and the Premier, the 1985 book by investigative journalist David Hickie, which canvassed allegations of corruption against senior NSW government officials—including Premier Robert Askin
Robert Askin
Sir Robert William Askin GCMG, was an Australian politician and the 32nd Premier of New South Wales from 1965 to 1975, the first representing the Liberal Party of Australia. He was born in 1907 as Robin William Askin, but always disliked his first name and changed it by deed poll in 1971...
-- and senior police including Norman Allan, Fred Hanson and Merv Wood.
Hickie specifically named both Allan and Hanson as corrupt, stating that they knowingly allowed illegal casinos and illegal SP (off-track) betting to flourish in NSW. Citing an "impeccable" and highly-placed source within the illegal gaming empire established by Perc Galea, Hickie alleged that that Askin and his police commissioners, Allan and Hanson, were paid bribes amounting to A$100,000 per year from 1967 until Askin's retirement.
Another informant of Hickie's -- a former croupier at Galea's Double Bay Bridge Club—claimed that $5000 per week from the club was paid in bribes to Hanson and Premier Robert Askin. Hickie also notes that Hanson was among the mourners at Galea's funeral in 1976.
In 1979 independent MLA John Hatton
John Hatton
John Edward Hatton AO is former Australian politician, and an National Trust of Australia nominated Australian Living Treasure. He was the independent member of the New South Wales State parliament "lower house" for to the seat of South Coast from 1973 to 1995...
claimed in the NSW Parliament that Askin and Hanson knew of and may have even encouraged the penetration of Australian crime by "overseas mobsters, gangsters and the Mafia".