James Anderton
Encyclopedia
Sir Cyril James Anderton CBE
(born May 24, 1932) is a British former police officer who served as Chief Constable
of Greater Manchester
from 1975 to 1991.
, and educated in local schools. He served in the military police
before joining the Manchester City Police force in 1953. He rose rapidly through the police ranks, studying criminology
at the Victoria University of Manchester
. He became Deputy Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary
. He was President of the Association of Chief Police Officers
from 1986 to 1987.
His appointment as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester was announced on October 23, 1975. At the time he was Britains youngest Chief Constable. One of his first acts as Chief Constable was a drive against pornography and prostitution and his special squads raided 284 bookshops,newsagents and warehouses. Their seizures included the Sun Page Three Annual. He successfully ensured a series of marches in Manchester in 1977 by the far right National Front passed without serious incident by deploying massive numbers of officers.
Anderton frequently courted public controversy with his outspoken views on policing and morality. He was highly visible and more accessible than any other British chief constable before him. He mounted press conferences attacking what he saw as "soft" sentencing of criminals. Anderton also used newspaper articles, TV interviews and speeches to set out his beliefs on policing, crime and punishment.
Anderton was a Methodist Lay Preacher before converting to Roman Catholicism. As a professed Christian who claimed to speak with God regularly and who characterised himself to be an instrument of divine judgement, Anderton came to be known as "God's copper". He also compared himself on several occasions to Oliver Cromwell.This led to some sections of the press and the public questioning his mental health but even his critics never questioned his professional ability. Opinion polls taken during his time as Chief Constable showed that public opinion both in Greater Manchester and nationally supported his tough approach to policing and crime and his outspoken style of leadership.
James Anderton commanded the loyalty and confidence of the officers of Greater Manchester Police throughout his 15 years in command. He was seen as a Chief Constable who supported his officers and looked after their welfare and interests. He was also seen as an upholder of tough discipline. The head of the GMP Police Federation stated after his retirement that it had been known for GMP officers to have violent arguments with officers from other forces if they were overheard to deride their beloved chief constable.
The sternest test of James Anderton as Chief Constable was in July 1981 with the Moss Side riots. The Greater Manchester Police were at the time the only english police force equipped with protective crash helmets for public order policing. After two days of attempting to defuse the rioters through community leaders and a low profile, Anderton changed his tactics and sent in GMPs Tactical Aid Group to clear the streets. The specially trained TAG officers using snatch squads deployed from fast moving vans made 150 arrests in the space of two hours and quelled the disorder. Throughout the period of the riots of 1981 in London, Liverpool and other inner city areas Greater Manchester Police were the only police force seen to dealing effectivly with the trouble.
Anderton was often in conflict with the city's political leadership during the 1980s, especially over his views on homosexuality and AIDS
: he declared that homosexuality should be illegal and referred to homosexuals and those with AIDS as "swirling in a cesspit of their own making".
Despite the conflict however Anderton was able to count on the support of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher whose favourite senior police officer Anderton was often said to be.
In 1986 he was embroiled in national political controversy when his deputy John Stalker
was suspended over allegations of his friendship with a man called Kevin Taylor, who was accused of fraud and drug-dealing when on the point of completing an official report critical of the policing policies of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
.
In 1989 he was caricatured as 'James Appleton' in David Britton
's satirical novel Lord Horror, in which Britton replaced the word "homosexuals" with "Jews" in one of Anderton's better-known speeches; this action resulted in the book's banning (the last such ban in England) and Britton's imprisonment for four months (both under the Obscene Publications Act).
The Happy Mondays
1990 song 'God's Cop' (from their album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
) lampooned Anderton, who was still in office at the time (for example, "God makes it easy/God makes it easy on me"). James Anderton was without doubt the most colourful, controversial and idiosyncratic Chief Constable in British policing history.
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...
(born May 24, 1932) is a British former police officer who served as Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
from 1975 to 1991.
Career
Anderton was born in WiganWigan
Wigan is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It stands on the River Douglas, south-west of Bolton, north of Warrington and west-northwest of Manchester. Wigan is the largest settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan and is its administrative centre. The town of Wigan had a total...
, and educated in local schools. He served in the military police
Military police of the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the phrase military police is normally used to describe two main types of police: service police and regimental provosts. There are a number of civilian police forces whose role is to police other parts of the Defence Estate in the UK and overseas, but such forces are not...
before joining the Manchester City Police force in 1953. He rose rapidly through the police ranks, studying criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
at the Victoria University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
. He became Deputy Chief Constable of Leicestershire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary
Leicestershire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland in England. Its headquarters are at Enderby, Leicestershire.The current Chief Constable is Simon Cole.-History:...
. He was President of the Association of Chief Police Officers
Association of Chief Police Officers
The Association of Chief Police Officers , established in 1948, is a private limited company that leads the development of policing practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.ACPO provides a forum for chief police officers to share ideas and coordinates the strategic...
from 1986 to 1987.
His appointment as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester was announced on October 23, 1975. At the time he was Britains youngest Chief Constable. One of his first acts as Chief Constable was a drive against pornography and prostitution and his special squads raided 284 bookshops,newsagents and warehouses. Their seizures included the Sun Page Three Annual. He successfully ensured a series of marches in Manchester in 1977 by the far right National Front passed without serious incident by deploying massive numbers of officers.
Anderton frequently courted public controversy with his outspoken views on policing and morality. He was highly visible and more accessible than any other British chief constable before him. He mounted press conferences attacking what he saw as "soft" sentencing of criminals. Anderton also used newspaper articles, TV interviews and speeches to set out his beliefs on policing, crime and punishment.
Anderton was a Methodist Lay Preacher before converting to Roman Catholicism. As a professed Christian who claimed to speak with God regularly and who characterised himself to be an instrument of divine judgement, Anderton came to be known as "God's copper". He also compared himself on several occasions to Oliver Cromwell.This led to some sections of the press and the public questioning his mental health but even his critics never questioned his professional ability. Opinion polls taken during his time as Chief Constable showed that public opinion both in Greater Manchester and nationally supported his tough approach to policing and crime and his outspoken style of leadership.
James Anderton commanded the loyalty and confidence of the officers of Greater Manchester Police throughout his 15 years in command. He was seen as a Chief Constable who supported his officers and looked after their welfare and interests. He was also seen as an upholder of tough discipline. The head of the GMP Police Federation stated after his retirement that it had been known for GMP officers to have violent arguments with officers from other forces if they were overheard to deride their beloved chief constable.
The sternest test of James Anderton as Chief Constable was in July 1981 with the Moss Side riots. The Greater Manchester Police were at the time the only english police force equipped with protective crash helmets for public order policing. After two days of attempting to defuse the rioters through community leaders and a low profile, Anderton changed his tactics and sent in GMPs Tactical Aid Group to clear the streets. The specially trained TAG officers using snatch squads deployed from fast moving vans made 150 arrests in the space of two hours and quelled the disorder. Throughout the period of the riots of 1981 in London, Liverpool and other inner city areas Greater Manchester Police were the only police force seen to dealing effectivly with the trouble.
Anderton was often in conflict with the city's political leadership during the 1980s, especially over his views on homosexuality and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
: he declared that homosexuality should be illegal and referred to homosexuals and those with AIDS as "swirling in a cesspit of their own making".
Despite the conflict however Anderton was able to count on the support of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher whose favourite senior police officer Anderton was often said to be.
In 1986 he was embroiled in national political controversy when his deputy John Stalker
John Stalker
John Stalker is a former Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, now residing in Lymm. He headed the Stalker Inquiry that investigated the shooting of suspected members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1982. He has also had a television and literary career.-Career:Stalker...
was suspended over allegations of his friendship with a man called Kevin Taylor, who was accused of fraud and drug-dealing when on the point of completing an official report critical of the policing policies of the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
.
In 1989 he was caricatured as 'James Appleton' in David Britton
David Britton
David Britton is a British author, artist, and publisher. In the 1970s he founded Weird Fantasy and Crucified Toad, a series of small press magazines of the speculative fiction and horror genres...
's satirical novel Lord Horror, in which Britton replaced the word "homosexuals" with "Jews" in one of Anderton's better-known speeches; this action resulted in the book's banning (the last such ban in England) and Britton's imprisonment for four months (both under the Obscene Publications Act).
The Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
1990 song 'God's Cop' (from their album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches
Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches was the third album by British band Happy Mondays. It was released in 1990 and was produced by Paul Oakenfold and Steve Osborne at Eden Studios in London....
) lampooned Anderton, who was still in office at the time (for example, "God makes it easy/God makes it easy on me"). James Anderton was without doubt the most colourful, controversial and idiosyncratic Chief Constable in British policing history.