Difference between revisions of "Peter Clarke (Police officer)"

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[[Image:Peter Clarke.jpg|right|thumb|Peter Clarke]]
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[[Image:Peter Clarke.jpg|right|thumb|Peter Clarke]]'''Peter John Michael Clarke''' (born 27 July 1955) is a former police commander who headed Scotland Yard’s Anti-Terrorism Branch from June 2002 and its successor organisation the Counter Terrorism Command, until his retirement in February 2008.  He became the face of the UK police’s counterterrorism operations following the July 2004 and has been one of the most widely quoted ‘terrorism experts’ in the media.
  
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'''Peter John Michael Clarke''' (born 27 July 1955) is the head of the Metropoltian Police's Counter Terrorism Command.
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==Education and Career==
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Peter Clarke was born on 27 July 1955.  He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1977 after graduating in Law from Bristol University. In the early part of his career he worked at a number of locations in London in both uniform and detective roles, including periods on murder enquiries and in international drugs intelligence. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref>
  
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==Biography==
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There followed postings in strategic planning, as operations head in a central London division, and as Staff Officer to the Commissioner.
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From Metropolitan Police Website:
 
  
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<blockquote style="background-color:beige;border:1pt solid Darkgoldenrod;padding:1%">Peter Clarke was born in 1955 and joined the Metropolitan Police in 1977 after graduating in Law from Bristol University. In the early part of his career he worked at a number of locations in London in both uniform and detective roles, including periods on murder enquiries and in international drugs intelligence.<br>There followed postings in strategic planning, as operations head in a central London division, and as Staff Officer to the Commissioner. In 1994 he became the Commander of Brixton Division in South London In 1997 he assumed command of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, with responsibility for the protection and security of the Royal Family and their residences, the diplomatic community in London and the Houses of Parliament. In June 2000 he became the Deputy Director of Personnel for the Metropolitan Police, and in June 2002 was appointed as Head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at New Scotland Yard and National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations. Mr Clarke now leads the newly formed (02/10/06) Counter Terrorism Command, which represents the merging of Special Branch and the Anti-Terrorist Branch.<br>He attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2002, was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2001 and awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2003. In 2006 he was made an OBE.<ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref></blockquote>
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In 1993 he was appointed a staff officer to Met Commissioner Paul Condon, <ref>Sean O’Neill, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2506045.ece ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’], ''The Times'', 21 September 2007</ref> and in 1994 he became the Commander of Brixton Division in South London. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref> From April 1995 to January 1996 he was a director of Brixton Challenge Company Ltd, <ref>Companies House, Current, Resigned & Dissolved Appointments of Peter John Michael Clarke (Date of Birth 27 July 1955) (accessed 28 November 2008)</ref> which was set up in 1993 to manage a five-year regeneration programme for the Brixton area, funded by a £37.5 million ‘city challenge’ government grant. <ref>‘Letter: Taking a look beyond the violence and riots of Brixton’, ''The Times'', 22 December 1995</ref>
  
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In September 2007 Clarke announced that he would step down in January 2008.<ref>Sean O’Neill, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2506045.ece ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’], ''The Times'', 21 September 2007</ref>
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In 1996 Clarke was promoted to a Commander in Specialist Operations Department at Scotland Yard. <ref>Sean O’Neill, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2506045.ece ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’], ''The Times'', 21 September 2007</ref>  In 1997 he assumed command of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, with responsibility for the protection and security of the Royal Family and their residences, the diplomatic community in London and the Houses of Parliament. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref>  
  
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==Comments on leaks to the media==
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In June 2000 he became the Deputy Director of Personnel for the Metropolitan Police, and in June 2002 was appointed as Head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at New Scotland Yard and National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref> On 2 October 2006 the Anti-Terrorist Branch was merged with [[Special Branch]] to form the  Counter Terrorism Command, which was led by Clarke. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref> The new body developed closer relations with the secret service, <ref>Sean O’Neill, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2506045.ece ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’], ''The Times'', 21 September 2007</ref> with Clarke acting ‘as the interface between the police and MI5’. <ref>’[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jul/03/terrorism.world4 Profile: Peter Clarke], The Guardian, 3 July 2007</ref>
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:The UK's counter-terrorism chief has condemned as "beneath contempt" people who leak anti-terrorism intelligence. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke of the Metropolitan Police said there were a "small number of misguided individuals who betray confidences".
 
  
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:By doing so, they had compromised investigations, revealed sources of life-saving intelligence and "put lives at risk" during major investigations. DAC Clarke also warned of a damaging "lack of public trust" in intelligence.
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Clarke attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2002, was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2001 and awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2003. In 2006 he was made an OBE. <ref>[http://www.met.police.uk/about/clarke.htm Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations] Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)</ref>
  
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:In a major speech at the [[Policy Exchange]], a think-tank, DAC Clarke said his role as National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations was to bridge the intelligence and policing worlds in an environment that had completely changed in recent years. Some 100 suspects were awaiting terrorism trials, he said.
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On 20 September 2007 Scotland Yard announced that Clarke would step down in January 2008. <ref>Sean O’Neill, [http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article2506045.ece ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’], ''The Times'', 21 September 2007</ref> Clarke’s retirement was delayed for a month as he stood in for his immediate superior [[Andy Hayman]] who retired amid allegations of an improper relationship with a official of the Inepdenent Police Complaints Commission.  <ref>John Steele, ‘[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1571559/Profile-Andy-Hayman.html Profile: Andy Hayman]’, Telegraph.co.uk, 6 December 2007</ref> Clarke retired in February 2008. <ref>Andrew Porter, ‘[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2066861/Terror-law-should-allow-42-days-detention-says-former-police-chief-Peter-Clarke.html Terror law should allow 42 days' detention, says former police chief]’, Telegraph.co.uk, 3 June 2008</ref>
  
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:But he warned the police's efforts to counter terrorism threats had been damaged by leaks to the media. "The recent investigation in Birmingham into an allegation that a British serviceman had been targeted by a terrorist network is but one example of this," said DAC Clarke.
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===After retirement===
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On 29 April 2008 Clarke was appointed a director of the [[Crimestoppers Trust]], <ref>Companies House, Current, Resigned & Dissolved Appointments of Peter Clarke (Date of Birth 27 July 1955)  (accessed 28 November 2008)</ref> the website of which is sponsored by the [[Security Industry Authority]].  
  
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:"On the morning of the arrests, almost before the detainees had arrived at the police stations to which they were being taken for questioning, it was clear that key details of the investigation and the evidence had been leaked. "This damaged the interview strategy of the investigators, and undoubtedly raised community tensions. "I have no idea where the leaks came from, but whoever was responsible should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves." <ref>BBC Online [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6589869.stm Terror chief warns of media leaks], Last Updated: Tuesday, 24 April 2007, 18:47 GMT 19:47 UK</ref>
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Clarke is a Fellow of the [[Center on Law and Security]] at the New York University School of Law.  Other Fellows include the terrorism expert [[Peter Bergen]] and his collaborator [[Paul Cruickshank]] – both of whom are affiliated to the [[Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies|School of Advanced International Studies]] at [[Terrorexpertise:Johns Hopkins University|Johns Hopkins University]] – and [[Sidney Blumenthal]], a journalist and former advisor to Bill Clinton.
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
 
<references/>
 
<references/>
 
[[Category:Terrorologist|Clarke, Peter]]
 
[[Category:Terrorologist|Clarke, Peter]]

Revision as of 15:27, 28 November 2008

Peter Clarke

Peter John Michael Clarke (born 27 July 1955) is a former police commander who headed Scotland Yard’s Anti-Terrorism Branch from June 2002 and its successor organisation the Counter Terrorism Command, until his retirement in February 2008. He became the face of the UK police’s counterterrorism operations following the July 2004 and has been one of the most widely quoted ‘terrorism experts’ in the media.

Education and Career

Peter Clarke was born on 27 July 1955. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1977 after graduating in Law from Bristol University. In the early part of his career he worked at a number of locations in London in both uniform and detective roles, including periods on murder enquiries and in international drugs intelligence. [1]

There followed postings in strategic planning, as operations head in a central London division, and as Staff Officer to the Commissioner.

In 1993 he was appointed a staff officer to Met Commissioner Paul Condon, [2] and in 1994 he became the Commander of Brixton Division in South London. [3] From April 1995 to January 1996 he was a director of Brixton Challenge Company Ltd, [4] which was set up in 1993 to manage a five-year regeneration programme for the Brixton area, funded by a £37.5 million ‘city challenge’ government grant. [5]

In 1996 Clarke was promoted to a Commander in Specialist Operations Department at Scotland Yard. [6] In 1997 he assumed command of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, with responsibility for the protection and security of the Royal Family and their residences, the diplomatic community in London and the Houses of Parliament. [7]

In June 2000 he became the Deputy Director of Personnel for the Metropolitan Police, and in June 2002 was appointed as Head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at New Scotland Yard and National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations. [8] On 2 October 2006 the Anti-Terrorist Branch was merged with Special Branch to form the Counter Terrorism Command, which was led by Clarke. [9] The new body developed closer relations with the secret service, [10] with Clarke acting ‘as the interface between the police and MI5’. [11]

Clarke attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in 2002, was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 2001 and awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2003. In 2006 he was made an OBE. [12]

On 20 September 2007 Scotland Yard announced that Clarke would step down in January 2008. [13] Clarke’s retirement was delayed for a month as he stood in for his immediate superior Andy Hayman who retired amid allegations of an improper relationship with a official of the Inepdenent Police Complaints Commission. [14] Clarke retired in February 2008. [15]

After retirement

On 29 April 2008 Clarke was appointed a director of the Crimestoppers Trust, [16] the website of which is sponsored by the Security Industry Authority.

Clarke is a Fellow of the Center on Law and Security at the New York University School of Law. Other Fellows include the terrorism expert Peter Bergen and his collaborator Paul Cruickshank – both of whom are affiliated to the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University – and Sidney Blumenthal, a journalist and former advisor to Bill Clinton.

References

  1. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  2. ↑ Sean O’Neill, ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’, The Times, 21 September 2007
  3. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  4. ↑ Companies House, Current, Resigned & Dissolved Appointments of Peter John Michael Clarke (Date of Birth 27 July 1955) (accessed 28 November 2008)
  5. ↑ ‘Letter: Taking a look beyond the violence and riots of Brixton’, The Times, 22 December 1995
  6. ↑ Sean O’Neill, ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’, The Times, 21 September 2007
  7. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  8. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  9. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  10. ↑ Sean O’Neill, ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’, The Times, 21 September 2007
  11. ↑ ’Profile: Peter Clarke, The Guardian, 3 July 2007
  12. ↑ Peter Clarke, Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Metropolitan Police website (accessed 2 May 2008)
  13. ↑ Sean O’Neill, ‘Wanted, a new chief to fight al-Qaeda’, The Times, 21 September 2007
  14. ↑ John Steele, ‘Profile: Andy Hayman’, Telegraph.co.uk, 6 December 2007
  15. ↑ Andrew Porter, ‘Terror law should allow 42 days' detention, says former police chief’, Telegraph.co.uk, 3 June 2008
  16. ↑ Companies House, Current, Resigned & Dissolved Appointments of Peter Clarke (Date of Birth 27 July 1955) (accessed 28 November 2008)
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