James Crane (police

officer)
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[1] [2]
Sir James William Donald Crane (1 January 1921 – 29 November 1994) was a British
[3]
police officer who served as HM Inspector of Constabulary from 1976 to 1979; and HM
[4]
Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales 1979–82.

After wartime service with the Royal Hampshire Regiment, he joined the Metropolitan Police
[5]
in 1946.

[6]
By the early 1970s he was the Commander of the Fraud Squad . He was promoted to
[7]
Deputy Assistant Commissioner and it was in this role that on 19 July 1972 he began the
[8] [9]
Poulson investigation. At the time this was the UK's biggest ever corruption inquiry: it

eventually led to the resignation of Reginald Maudling, then Home Secretary and notionally in
[10] [11]
charge of the police. In 1973 Crane arrested Poulson who was later convicted.

As Chief Inspector of the Constabulary, Crane was also involved in investigating the failings
[12]
of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.

[13]
In 1977 he was awarded CBE. On Wednesday, 23 July 1980, at Buckingham Palace, the
[14]
Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood.