Clissitt, Adrian. 1977 - 1984
Chief Constable of Hertfordshire Constabulary
By ANDY WISEMAN
Adrian Clissitt was born in South Wales in 1924. Upon leaving school, he went to Hampshire where he hoped to become a monk at Farnborough Abbey. In 1942, he was called-up into the Royal Navy and as a young Lieutenant he took part in the Normandy Landings on D-Day. Miraculously, he survived when his vessel took a direct hit from a German dive-bomber. In the last year of the war he joined the Royal Marines and served in the Far East. He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1951 and was promoted to Superintendent (in charge of the Fulham division) in 1964. He later served in Leeds, where he was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable. In 1974 he transferred to Hertfordshire Constabulary as a Deputy Chief Constable, and was promoted to Chief Constable three years later. He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 1978 was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 1984. He died in 2002.
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Adrian had a reputation as a chief constable who required officers to be exact in their dealings with him. On one occasion I am aware of his staff officer entered his office and said he had 5 or 6 files for the chief to examine. Adrian sent him out and said when you know how many files you have come back. He promoted me to sergeant. When I went to see him I lived in Wheathamsted and knew of a vacancy in Harpenden. The chief told me that he wanted to promote me and post me to Bishops Stortford. I told him that my wife was seven months pregnant hoping he would offer me the nearer posting. Adrian looked at me and said I moved when my wife was pregnant once as well, that was the end of that discussion.