Peter Clarke (police officer)
Encyclopedia
Peter John Michael Clarke CVO OBE QPM
(born 27 July 1955) is a retired senior police officer with London
's Metropolitan Police
most notably having served as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner
with the Specialist Operations
directorate, commanding the Counter Terrorism Command
.
and is married with three children. He lists cricket
and rugby
among his interests.
in 1977, progressing through the ranks to reach inspector in 1984, becoming a detective inspector in 1986 before joining the National Drugs Intelligence Unit in 1988. Subsequently promoted, Clarke became Operations Chief, Central London division in 1990 and staff officer to the Met commissioner
in 1993 followed by three years as divisional commander, Brixton
from 1994 to 1997.
Clarke then spent a further 3 years as a Commander, heading the Protection Command
between 1997 and 2000, a role which placed him in charge of Royalty protection at the time of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
, followed by 2 years as deputy director of personnel from 2000 to 2002. In June 2002, Clarke became head of the Anti-terrorist Branch, later merged with Special Branch to form the Counter Terrorist Command, a role which put him in direct control of the investigation into the 7 July attacks
on London and the failed bomb attempts
of 21 July 2005.
On 6 March 2001, Clarke was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours
and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2006 New Year Honours for his work on July 2005 bombings.
, Sir Ian Blair, following the resignation of Andy Hayman
. Clarke has been vocal in his retirement in campaigning for tougher legislation on terrorism including extended detention before charge for terrorist suspects, pointing out that is is sometimes necessary to make arrests at an early stage in inquiries in order to protect the public.
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
(born 27 July 1955) is a retired senior police officer with London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
most notably having served as a Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy Assistant Commissioner
Deputy assistant commissioner is a rank in London's Metropolitan Police Service between assistant commissioner and commander. It is equivalent to deputy chief constable in other British police forces and wears the same insignia: a pip above crossed tipstaves within a wreath.The rank was introduced...
with the Specialist Operations
Specialist Operations
Specialist Operations is a directorate of the Metropolitan Police. At its peak, SO was a group of twenty specialist units, which were formed to give the Metropolitan Police a specialist policing capability. The SO designation was implemented in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman's restructuring of...
directorate, commanding the Counter Terrorism Command
Counter Terrorism Command
Counter Terrorism Command or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service. Counter Terrorism Command was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch , and the Special Branch in 2006, to form a single counter-terrorism investigative unit...
.
Early and personal life
Clarke holds a degree in law and an Honorary Doctorate in Law from the University of BristolUniversity of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
and is married with three children. He lists cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
among his interests.
Career
Clarke joined the Metropolitan PoliceMetropolitan police
Metropolitan Police is a generic title for the municipal police force for a major metropolitan area, and it may be part of the official title of the force...
in 1977, progressing through the ranks to reach inspector in 1984, becoming a detective inspector in 1986 before joining the National Drugs Intelligence Unit in 1988. Subsequently promoted, Clarke became Operations Chief, Central London division in 1990 and staff officer to the Met commissioner
Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is the head of London's Metropolitan Police Service, classing the holder as a chief police officer...
in 1993 followed by three years as divisional commander, Brixton
Brixton
Brixton is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in south London, England. It is south south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
from 1994 to 1997.
Clarke then spent a further 3 years as a Commander, heading the Protection Command
Protection Command
The Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations directorate of London's Metropolitan Police Service. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government/diplomatic...
between 1997 and 2000, a role which placed him in charge of Royalty protection at the time of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
, followed by 2 years as deputy director of personnel from 2000 to 2002. In June 2002, Clarke became head of the Anti-terrorist Branch, later merged with Special Branch to form the Counter Terrorist Command, a role which put him in direct control of the investigation into the 7 July attacks
7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings were a series of co-ordinated suicide attacks in the United Kingdom, targeting civilians using London's public transport system during the morning rush hour....
on London and the failed bomb attempts
21 July 2005 London bombings
On 21 July 2005, four attempted bomb attacks disrupted part of London's public transport system two weeks after the 7 July 2005 London bombings. The explosions occurred around midday at Shepherd's Bush, Warren Street and Oval stations on London Underground, and on a bus in Shoreditch...
of 21 July 2005.
On 6 March 2001, Clarke was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
in the 2003 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2006 New Year Honours for his work on July 2005 bombings.
Retirement
Clarke retired as Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations in February 2008, having delayed his retirement at the request of the then CommissionerCommissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
, Sir Ian Blair, following the resignation of Andy Hayman
Andy Hayman
Andrew Christopher "Andy" Hayman, CBE, QPM is a retired British police officer and author of The Terrorist Hunters. Hayman held the rank of Chief Constable of Norfolk Constabulary and Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations at London's Metropolitan Police, the highest ranking officer...
. Clarke has been vocal in his retirement in campaigning for tougher legislation on terrorism including extended detention before charge for terrorist suspects, pointing out that is is sometimes necessary to make arrests at an early stage in inquiries in order to protect the public.