Hugh Moore (police officer)
Encyclopedia
Commander Hugh John Moore, QPM
, was a police officer
in the City of London Police
who died from heart failure on 4 December 1993, eleven days after a violent struggle with a man who he had attempted to arrest
.
in the Royal Air Force
and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a member of the Criminal Investigation Department
of the City of London Police, but also served in the City Fraud Squad
and Regional Crime Squads, and was promoted through the ranks. As Commander, he oversaw the investigation into the death of Roberto Calvi
, dubbed "God's Banker", in June 1982. In July that year, Moore gave evidence in the trial of two City of London Police officers, held as part of Operation Countryman
, in which he denied corruption allegations made by one of the defendants. The allegations had been made on a secret tape recording, though the defendant had subsequently withdrawn them on the grounds that he had been drunk at the time they were made.
Moore was also involved with the police investigations into the collapses of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International
and the Maxwell empire
. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal
in the 1992 New Year's Honours. He oversaw the establishment of the ring of steel surrounding the City of London
in 1993. Over his career, he received eleven commendations from commissioners and judges for his work.
. During the arrest, he suffered cuts to his face, arms and legs, and was admitted to hospital the next day. He died, aged 64, from heart failure in a private hospital in Bushey
, Hertfordshire, on 4 December 1993, and was survived by his widow, Connie, and grown-up son, Roger. He had been due to retire that September. His funeral was held on 16 December at St. John the Baptist Church, High Barnet.
The Commissioner of the City police, Owen Kelly, described him as "one of the most professionally accomplished police officers I have ever known", and as a "modest man" who "would be the last to mention his own achievements". He said "[h]is death is a great loss to this force and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him."
A coroner later ruled that Moore had been unlawfully killed
, and the police inquiry into his death was subsequently stepped up to a murder
inquiry. It is not known if any charges were brought in connection with Moore's death.
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...
, was a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
in the City of London Police
City of London Police
The City of London Police is the territorial police force responsible for law enforcement within the City of London, England, including the Middle and Inner Temple. The service responsible for law enforcement within the rest of Greater London is the Metropolitan Police Service, a separate...
who died from heart failure on 4 December 1993, eleven days after a violent struggle with a man who he had attempted to arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
.
Career
Moore joined the police force in 1955, following a period of National ServiceConscription in the United Kingdom
Conscription in the United Kingdom has existed for two periods in modern times. The first was from 1916 to 1919, the second was from 1939 to 1960, with the last conscripted soldiers leaving the service in 1963...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a member 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,...
of the City of London Police, but also served in the City Fraud Squad
Fraud Squad
A Fraud Squad is a police department which investigates fraud and other economic crimes. The largest Fraud Squad in the United Kingdom is run by the City of London Police who are responsible for policing London's and the UK's main financial hub....
and Regional Crime Squads, and was promoted through the ranks. As Commander, he oversaw the investigation into the death of Roberto Calvi
Roberto Calvi
Roberto Calvi was an Italian banker dubbed "God's Banker" by the press because of his close association with the Holy See. A native of Milan, Calvi was Chairman of Banco Ambrosiano, which collapsed in one of modern Italy's biggest political scandals...
, dubbed "God's Banker", in June 1982. In July that year, Moore gave evidence in the trial of two City of London Police officers, held as part of Operation Countryman
Operation Countryman
Operation Countryman was a wide-ranging investigation into police corruption within the Metropolitan Police Service in London from 1978-1984. After being initially established to investigate allegations of corruption in the City of London Police, the main investigation was soon shifted to...
, in which he denied corruption allegations made by one of the defendants. The allegations had been made on a secret tape recording, though the defendant had subsequently withdrawn them on the grounds that he had been drunk at the time they were made.
Moore was also involved with the police investigations into the collapses of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International
Bank of Credit and Commerce International
The Bank of Credit and Commerce International was a major international bank founded in 1972 by Agha Hasan Abedi, a Pakistani financier. The Bank was registered in Luxembourg with head offices in Karachi and London. Within a decade BCCI touched its peak...
and the Maxwell empire
Robert Maxwell
Ian Robert Maxwell MC was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and former Member of Parliament , who rose from poverty to build an extensive publishing empire...
. 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 1992 New Year's Honours. He oversaw the establishment of the ring of steel surrounding the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
in 1993. Over his career, he received eleven commendations from commissioners and judges for his work.
Death
On 19 November 1993, Moore attempted to arrest a man he suspected to be a bogus charity worker collecting for Great Ormond Street HospitalGreat Ormond Street Hospital
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children is a children's hospital located in London, United Kingdom...
. During the arrest, he suffered cuts to his face, arms and legs, and was admitted to hospital the next day. He died, aged 64, from heart failure in a private hospital in Bushey
Bushey
Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. Bushey Heath is situated to the south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow.-History:...
, Hertfordshire, on 4 December 1993, and was survived by his widow, Connie, and grown-up son, Roger. He had been due to retire that September. His funeral was held on 16 December at St. John the Baptist Church, High Barnet.
The Commissioner of the City police, Owen Kelly, described him as "one of the most professionally accomplished police officers I have ever known", and as a "modest man" who "would be the last to mention his own achievements". He said "[h]is death is a great loss to this force and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him."
A coroner later ruled that Moore had been unlawfully killed
Unlawful killing
In English law unlawful killing is a verdict that can be returned by an inquest in England and Wales when someone has been killed by one or several unknown persons. The verdict means that the killing was done without lawful excuse and in breach of criminal law. This includes murder, manslaughter,...
, and the police inquiry into his death was subsequently stepped up to a murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
inquiry. It is not known if any charges were brought in connection with Moore's death.
External links
- City of London Police on the Police Memorial TrustPolice Memorial TrustThe Police Memorial Trust is a charitable organisation founded in 1984 and based in London. The trust's objective is to erect memorials to British police officers killed in the line of duty, at or near the spot where they died, thereby acting as a permanent reminder to the public of the sacrifice...
's Roll of Honour