Lawrence Byford
Lawrence Byford CBE QPM DL | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 August 1925 Normanton, Yorkshire, England |
| Died | 10 February 2018 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Office | Chief Inspector of Constabulary |
| Term | 1983–1987 |
| Predecessor | James Crane |
| Successor | Richard Barratt |
Sir Lawrence Byford CBE QPM DL (10 August 1925 – 10 February 2018) was Chief Inspector of Constabulary from 1983 to 1987.[1] His inquiry into the failings of the Yorkshire Ripper investigation by West Yorkshire Police earned him the description "the man who changed the face of modern policing" because it "led to fundamental changes in the way serial killer investigations would be carried out in future across the world".[2][3]
Early life[]
Byford was born the son of a coal miner in Normanton, West Yorkshire. He left school without any qualifications and became an apprentice electrician at a local pit. In 1944, Byford was conscripted and saw service during the latter months of World War II with the Royal Signals in France, Belgium and Germany.[2]
Career[]
Byford's police career began in 1947 as a constable with the West Riding Constabulary, where he rose to be the Commander of the Huddersfield Division. He also graduated from the University of Leeds with a law degree in 1956.[2] He left in 1968 to join the senior leadership team of Lincolnshire Police, and was Chief Constable from 1973 to 1977. He was a Regional Inspector of Constabulary from 1978 until his appointment to the top job. In retirement he served as President of Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1991 to 1999.[4][5]
Honours[]
He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in 1973. He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1979, and was knighted in 1984.[6]
| Ribbon | Description | Notes |
 |
Knight Bachelor (Kt) |
|
 |
Order of the British Empire (CBE) |
|
 |
Order of St John | |
 |
Queen's Police Medal (QPM) |
|
 |
1939-45 Star | |
 |
France and Germany Star | |
 |
War Medal | |
 |
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal |
Personal life[]
In 1950 he married Muriel Campbell Massey: they had three children, one of whom was Deputy Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation and head of BBC Journalism from 2004 to 2011.[8]
Later life[]
Byford was President of Yorkshire County Cricket Club from 1990 to 1999;[4] and a Deputy Lieutenant of North Yorkshire from 1992.[9]
References[]
- ^ ‘BYFORD, Sir Lawrence��, Who's Who 2016, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2015 ; online edn, November 2015 accessed 14 May 2016
- ^ a b c Earnshaw, Tony (14 February 2018). "Tributes to Sir Lawrence Byford the man who changed the face of modern policing". Examiner Live. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ "Sir Lawrence Byford report into the police handling of the Yorkshire Ripper case". GOV.UK.
- ^ a b "The Yorkshire County Cricket Club Past Presidents - The Club". Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
- ^ "Chief Inspector of Constabulary who found glaring errors in the Yorkshire Ripper investigation" The Daily Telegraph Issue no 50,615 p 27 dated Tuesday 13 February 2018
- ^ "No. 49696". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 April 1984. p. 1.
- ^ Earnshaw, Tony (14 February 2018). "Tributes to Sir Lawrence Byford". YorkshireLive. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
- ^ Midgley, Neil (11 October 2010). "BBC's Mark Byford made redundant". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
- ^ "Sir Lawrence Byford, former HM Inspector of Constabulary". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
- 1925 births
- 2018 deaths
- Alumni of the University of Leeds
- British Army personnel of World War II
- British Chief Constables
- Chief Inspectors of Constabulary (England and Wales)
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Deputy Lieutenants of North Yorkshire
- Knights Bachelor
- People from Normanton, West Yorkshire
- Presidents of Yorkshire County Cricket Club
- Recipients of the Queen's Police Medal
- Royal Corps of Signals soldiers
- Peter Sutcliffe