Paul Condon, Baron Condon

Paul Leslie Condon, Baron Condon, CStJ, QPM, DL, FRSA (born 10 March 1947) is a British retired police officer. He was the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 1993 to 2000.

The Right Honourable
The Lord Condon
CStJ QPM DL FRSA
Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police
In office
1 January 1993 – 31 December 1999
Preceded bySir Peter Imbert
Succeeded bySir John Stevens
Personal details
Born
Paul Leslie Condon

(1947-03-10) 10 March 1947

Education

Condon read Jurisprudence at St Peter's College, Oxford and was made an Honorary Fellow in 1996.

Career

Policing

Paul Condon joined the police in 1967. He became Chief Constable of Kent in 1989 and Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in 1993 at the age of 45, the youngest person to do so, stepping down in 2000.[1]

His tenure as head of the Metropolitan Police Service was marked by the Stephen Lawrence case, which became a major controversy. The subsequent public Macpherson Report found the force to be "institutionally racist" and that the failure to arrest and successfully prosecute those believed guilty brought about many changes in the way the Metropolitan Police investigated murder within the capital. In 1995, Condon attracted controversy and media attention for stating that most muggers are black.[2][3]

Other challenges Condon faced were sectarian violence over the Irish partition, the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, the millennium celebrations and police corruption, which led to 70 people being charged, 100 police officers suspended and changes to legislation.

Post-police career

Just six weeks after his retirement from the Metropolitan Police, Condon became head of the International Cricket Council's anti-corruption unit, investigating the game's betting controversies.[4]

In March 2007, Mohammed Al Fayed launched legal action in France against Lord Condon, alleging he deliberately withheld evidence from the French inquiry into the death of the Princess of Wales in 1997.[5] Condon was also named to assist Jamaican Police in their inquiry into the strangulation murder of Pakistan's World Cup cricket coach, Bob Woolmer.

Director of G4S PLC

Condon was deputy chairman of the board of G4S until he retired from the board in 2012.[6]

Honours

Condon is a Companion of the Institute of Management. He was awarded the Queen's Police Medal for distinguished service (QPM) in 1989. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 20 July 1994.[7] He was appointed Commander of the Venerable Order of Saint John (CStJ) in April 1994.[8]

On 27 April 2001, it was announced that a life peerage would be conferred upon him.[9] He was created Baron Condon, of Langton Green in the County of Kent.[10] He sat as a crossbencher in the House of Lords until his retirement on 21 December 2017.[11]

Coat of arms of Paul Condon, Baron Condon
Crest
Salient over two oars in saltire blades upwards Sable a horse Argent unguled maned and tailed Or.
Escutcheon
Sable three piles reversed embowed inwards couped at the apex the base of that in the centre surmounting the bases on those either side Argent each charged with two bars compony counter-compony Azure and Argent and ensigned with an estoile Or.
Supporters
On either side a Meerkat sejant Azure gorged with a chain pendant therefrom a portcullis Or.[12]
Motto
Honour, Service, Courage
Badge
A meerkat sejant Azure supporting with the forefeet a portcullis chained Or.


RibbonDescriptionNotes
Knight Bachelor
  • 1994
Venerable Order of Saint John (CStJ)
  • Commander
  • 1994
Queen's Police Medal (QPM)
  • 1989
Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

References
  1. "Profile: Sir Paul Condon". BBC News Online. 19 February 1999. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  2. Steele, John (12 January 2002). "Anti-mugging squad targets 'pack leaders'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 November 2003. Retrieved 3 October 2008. MORE than a quarter of people accused of crimes in London, ranging from muggings to burglary and fraud, are black, according to new police figures.
  3. Steele, John (19 June 2001). "Quarter of men accused are black". The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  4. Petropoulos, Thrasy (2 November 2000). "Cricket's special branch". BBC News website. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  5. "Al Fayed in new Diana legal fight". BBC News website. 19 March 2007. Retrieved 3 October 2008.
  6. G4S Board Members, g4s.com, 25 January 2013.
  7. "No. 53910". The London Gazette. 10 January 1995. p. 307.
  8. "No. 53643". The London Gazette. 15 April 1994. p. 5667.
  9. "No. 56188". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 April 2001. p. 5067.
  10. "No. 56260". The London Gazette. 2 July 2001. p. 7767.
  11. "Member Profile – Lord Condon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
  12. Debrett's Peerage. 2019. p. 2154.
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