Sir James William Donald Crane (1 January 1921[1] – 29 November 1994)[2] was a British police officer who served as HM Inspector of Constabulary from 1976 to 1979;[3] and HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales 1979–82.
[6] He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner[7] and it was in this role that on 19 July 1972 he began the Poulson investigation.
[8] At the time this was the UK's biggest ever corruption inquiry:[9] it eventually led to the resignation of Reginald Maudling, then Home Secretary and notionally in charge of the police.
[11] As Chief Inspector of the Constabulary, Crane was also involved in investigating the failings of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.
[13] On Wednesday, 23 July 1980, at Buckingham Palace, the Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood.