Career
His appointment at age 37 was not without controversy, but he was a visionary policeman. Nottingham was the first city in Britain to develop an ARP (Air Raid Precautions) network. lieutenant was developed because of the foresight of the The city was divided into zones, controlled by report and control centres with 45 auxiliary fire service stations.
Amongst his other innovations were:
the first forensic laboratory in England
the introduction of police dogs
an advanced driving school
traffic wardens
wireless communications in his Mechanised Division which grew to a force of 39 vehicles and 70 officers using Standard Ensign cars and Triumph Thunderbird motorbikes
His career was abruptly cut short in 1960 over an issue in the constitutional question of control of the police.
He refused to hand over a report into financial irregularities by some City Council members to the Watch Committee. He was suspended as unfit for office under the Municipal Corporations Acting 1882.
Intervention by Rab Butler, the Home Secretary saw him reinstated but he retired that same year. The "Popkess Affair" was a prime factor in the appointment of the Royal Commission and the subsequent Police Acting 1964 which sought to establish the respective powers of the Home Secretary, a Police Authority and the He died at the age of 72 in Torquay.
