17 Facts About Robert Mark

Robert Mark was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, a suburb of Manchester, the youngest of five children of a prosperous mantle manufacturer originally from Yorkshire.

Robert Mark recalled a test for claustrophobia which involved being tipped down a 45-degree drainpipe into a pitch black chamber with two false and one actual exit.

Robert Mark was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps in October 1943.

Robert Mark initially served with the 108th Regiment, but through the influence of his elder brother James, who worked at the War Office, he then transferred to the Manchester Regiment in December 1943, attached to the GHQ Liaison Regiment, known as Phantom, which provided liaison with special forces units.

Robert Mark applied for the post of Assistant Chief Constable of Newcastle upon Tyne, but was unsuccessful and instead enrolled on the senior command course at the National Police College.

Robert Mark, realising that an outsider would not be accepted at this time, suggested the appointment of Deputy Commissioner Sir John Waldron, with himself succeeding Waldron as Deputy Commissioner.

Robert Mark changed disciplinary procedures, returned many detectives to uniform, made a number of television appearances praising the uniformed branch following student unrest and protests against the Vietnam War, and began to gather around him a group of loyal, ambitious uniformed officers who had not graduated from the old Hendon Police College.

In 1971, with Brodie, an old-school officer who commanded CID, out of the country, Robert Mark formed A10, a special unit established to investigate corruption.

Robert Mark continued to root out corruption, ably assisted by his Deputy Commissioner, Sir James Starritt.

Robert Mark had to deal with the increase in IRA terrorism, including the Balcombe Street Siege, and the Knightsbridge Spaghetti House Siege, taking personal command of both.

Robert Mark resigned in 1977 following a public disagreement with Jenkins, then Home Secretary, over the Police Act 1976 and the introduction of an independent police complaints body, which Robert Mark considered would undermine police discipline and effective investigation.

Robert Mark was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the 1965 Birthday Honours, knighted in the 1973 New Year Honours, and appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire in the 1977 New Year Honours.

Robert Mark was appointed Knight of the Order of Saint John in 1978.

Robert Mark received the Freedom of the City of Westminster on 22 June 1977 and the City of London on 23 July 1979, and the Freedom of the City of New York from Mayor John Lindsay.

Robert Mark received the honorary degrees of Doctor of Letters from the Loughborough University of Technology in December 1976 and Doctor of Laws from the University of Liverpool on 6 July 1978.

Robert Mark married Kathleen Mary Leahy in 1941; they had a son and a daughter.

Robert Mark wrote Policing a Perplexed Society, published in 1977.