John Hill (police officer)

Sir John Maxwell Hill CBE DFC QPM (25 March 1914 – 6 May 2004) was a British police officer.

Sir John Maxwell Hill CBE DFC QPM
HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary
In office 1972–1975
Preceded by	Sir John McKay
Succeeded by	Sir James Haughton
Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
In office 1 April 1972 – 3 December 1972
Preceded by	Robert Mark
Succeeded by	James Starritt
Personal details
Born	25 March 1914 Plymouth, Devon, England
Died	6 May 2004 (aged 90)
Occupation	Police Officer
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1942-1945
Rank	Flying Officer
Service number	162372
Awards	Distinguished Flying Cross

Early life

Hill was born in Plymouth, the son of a civil servant. He was educated at Plymouth College and joined the Metropolitan Police as a constable in 1933. In 1938 he was selected for Hendon Police College and passed out the following year.

War years

During the Second World War, Hill served in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Enlisting in 1942, he was commissioned (from the rank of leading aircraftman) as a pilot officer in February 1944.[1] In August 1944, he was promoted flying officer.[2] In September 1945, while serving with 622 Squadron, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).[3]

Post-war career

Hill returned to the Metropolitan Police after the war at the rank of inspector.[4] He was later promoted deputy commander at Scotland Yard in 1959. In 1963, he was promoted commander and appointed second-in-command of No.3 District (North-East London). In 1964, he transferred to No.1 District (North-West London) and in 1965 he was appointed one of HM Inspectors of Constabulary.[5][6]

He returned to the Metropolitan Police as Assistant Commissioner "A" (Operations and Administration) in October 1966.[7] In 1968 he became Assistant Commissioner "D" (Personnel and Training), and on 1 April 1972 he was appointed Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.[8] He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1969.

On 3 December 1972, he became HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary.[9][10] He was knighted in the 1974 New Year Honours[11] and retired in 1975.

Footnotes

1. "No. 36472". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 April 1944. p. 1768.
2. "No. 36692". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 September 1944. p. 4170.
3. "No. 37281". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1945. p. 4750.
4. HMIC Profile
5. Appointments, The Times, 24 August 1965
6. "No. 43784". The London Gazette. 8 October 1965. p. 9361.
7. "Two Police Chiefs Promoted", The Times, 16 March 1966
8. "New Chief of Metropolitan Police is a reformer of vision", 4 November 1971
9. "Yard man to be Chief Inspector of Constabulary", The Times, 25 October 1972
10. "No. 45843". The London Gazette. 5 December 1972. p. 14420.
11. "No. 46162". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1973. p. 1.

References

• Biography, Who Was Who

Police appointments
Preceded by Unknown	Commander, No.3 District, Metropolitan Police 1963–1964	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by Unknown	Commander, No.1 District, Metropolitan Police 1964–1965	Succeeded by Unknown
Preceded by John Waldron	Assistant Commissioner "A", Metropolitan Police 1966–1968	Succeeded by Andrew Way
Preceded by Robert Mark	Assistant Commissioner "D", Metropolitan Police 1968–1972	Succeeded by John Mastel
Preceded by Robert Mark	Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis 1972	Succeeded by James Starritt
Preceded by Sir John McKay	HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales 1972–1975	Succeeded by Sir James Haughton