

Tue, 21 Nov
|Warwick Hall
"Bombs, bullets and banquets". The Lord (Geoffrey) Dear Kt CStJ QPM DL
A relaxed stroll through some events during a career in the police, home and abroad combatting organised crime, ensuring Royal and Diplomatic safety and protecting the public.
Time & Location
21 Nov 2023, 19:00
Warwick Hall, Church Lane, Burford OX18 4RY
About the Event
Registering for this event is appreciated.
Geoffrey Dear is a crossbench peer and retired British police officer who is a former Chief Constable of West Midlands Police. He was described by the broadcaster and writer Sir Robin Day as "the best known and most respected police officer of his generation".
He has pursued three completely separate careers.
Having joined as a constable, he held some of the most senior positions in the British Police Service, at different times being responsible nationally for counter-terrorism, criminal intelligence and combatting organised crime. He was Head of Operations in London and later commanded the biggest provincial police force in England and Wales. He advised the Indian Government and the United States of America FBI on counter-terrorism issues. He was described by the broadcaster and writer, Sir Robin Day, as the “best known and most respected police officer of his generation” He was decorated for Bravery when effecting the arrest of an armed gunman.
On leaving the police, he was involved in a number of high-profile reviews for central Government, including reorganisations of the Crown Prosecution Service and of the Criminal Courts System; then served on a number of Boards of Public Limited Companies and Start-ups as a non-executive chairman or director.
He was knighted in 1997 and granted a peerage in 2006 when he entered the House of Lords, where he sits as a Cross Bencher (ie: politically independent). He was a Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chairman of Committees from 2014 to 2022. He has been successful in personally securing a number of major changes in legislation, especially in the field of fundamental legal and human rights. In the House of Lords, he was a member of the European Union Select Committee and Vice-Chairman of its Economic and Financial Affairs Sub-Committee 2011/15; the Home Affairs Select Committee 2008/12.
He has an honours degree in law from University College London (since elected as a Fellow of that College), is a Bencher of Gray’s Inn, holds the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery, is a Commander of the Order of St John and was Vice Lord Lieutenant (ie: Queen’s Representative) of Worcestershire.
He gives much time to charitable organisations, including being Chairman of Trustees of the Friends of Northleach Church.
He and his wife live in Northleach
Schedule
1 hour 15 minutesMarch Meeting - details to follow