Gilbert Kelland
Encyclopedia
Gilbert James Kelland CBE
QPM
(17 March 1924 – 30 August 1997) was a British
police
officer in the Metropolitan Police
in London
.
Kelland grew up in North Devon
and was educated at Georgeham
Church School and Braunton
Secondary Modern School
. He served in the Fleet Air Arm
in the Second World War from 1942 to 1946, when he joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
. He passed his Inspector's
course in 1955 and was an Inspector by 1958, when he was working in the vice squad
. In 1959 he was promoted Chief Inspector
, still in vice. By 1964 he was a Superintendent
and in 1968 he was president of the Superintendents' Association. In 1969 he went to the United States
to study American law enforcement on a Ford Fellowship.
By 1971 he had been promoted Commander
. As a Deputy Assistant Commissioner
, he was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
(QPM) in the 1975 New Year Honours. Later that year, in command of A10 (Complaints Investigation) Branch, he led the investigation into corruption in the Obscene Publications Squad. In February 1977 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C"
, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department
(CID). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1978 Birthday Honours and retired in 1984. He was British representative to Interpol
from 1977 to 1984.
He wrote Crime in London, published in 1986–1987.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
QPM
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...
(17 March 1924 – 30 August 1997) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer in the 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...
in 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...
.
Kelland grew up in North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
and was educated at Georgeham
Georgeham
Georgeham is a village and civil parish near Croyde, North Devon in the west of England.The hamlet of Cross lies between Georgeham and Croyde.The village gave its name to HMS Georgeham, a Ham class minesweeper....
Church School and Braunton
Braunton
Braunton is situated west of Barnstaple, Devon, England and is claimed to be the largest village in England, with a population in 2001 of 7,510. It is home to the nearby Braunton Great Field and Braunton Burrows, a National Nature and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve....
Secondary Modern School
Secondary modern school
A secondary modern school is a type of secondary school that existed in most of the United Kingdom from 1944 until the early 1970s, under the Tripartite System, and was designed for the majority of pupils - those who do not achieve scores in the top 25% of the eleven plus examination...
. He served in the Fleet Air Arm
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm is the branch of the British Royal Navy responsible for the operation of naval aircraft. The Fleet Air Arm currently operates the AgustaWestland Merlin, Westland Sea King and Westland Lynx helicopters...
in the Second World War from 1942 to 1946, when he joined the Metropolitan Police as a Constable
Constable
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:...
. He passed his Inspector's
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 :...
course in 1955 and was an Inspector by 1958, when he was working in the vice squad
Vice Squad
Vice Squad is a punk band formed in 1978 in Bristol, England. The band formed from two other local punk bands, The Contingent and TV Brakes. Songwriter and vocalist Beki Bondage was a founding member and is currently with the band, although there was a period of time when the band had a different...
. In 1959 he was promoted Chief Inspector
Chief inspector
Chief inspector is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police .-Australia:...
, still in vice. By 1964 he was a 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...
and in 1968 he was president of the Superintendents' Association. In 1969 he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to study American law enforcement on a Ford Fellowship.
By 1971 he had been promoted Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
. 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...
, 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...
(QPM) in the 1975 New Year Honours. Later that year, in command of A10 (Complaints Investigation) Branch, he led the investigation into corruption in the Obscene Publications Squad. In February 1977 he was appointed Assistant Commissioner "C"
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
, in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department
Criminal Investigation Department
The Crime Investigation Department is the branch of all Territorial police forces within the British Police and many other Commonwealth police forces, to which plain clothes detectives belong. It is thus distinct from the Uniformed Branch and the Special Branch.The Metropolitan Police Service CID,...
(CID). He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1978 Birthday Honours and retired in 1984. He was British representative to Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
from 1977 to 1984.
He wrote Crime in London, published in 1986–1987.