Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A K.P.M. group of four awarded to Chief Inspector W. B. Fair, Metropolitan Police, who was known as the ‘Who’s Who’ of crime, and served as the curator of the Metropolitan Police’s famous ‘Black Museum’

King’s Police Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Ch. Insp. William B. Fair. Metropolitan Police) in case of issue; Jubilee 1897, bronze (P.C. W. Fair.); Coronation 1902, bronze (P.C. W. Fair. C.O. Div.); Coronation 1911 (P.S. W. Fair.) traces of lacquer, generally good very fine (4) £500-£700

K.P.M. London Gazette 1 January 1931.

The original recommendation, dated 29 October 1930, states: ‘The Chief Inspector had been in charge of the Criminal Record Office for 9 years. During that time he has brought it to a high state of efficiency in spite of many difficulties. He has over 38 years’ service, is the senior Chief inspector in the Criminal Investigation Department, and, but for his highly specialised knowledge and the great value of his work in the Records branch, would no doubt have reached higher rank.’

William Burnham Fair was born in Camden Town, London, on 28 October 1871 and joined the Metropolitan Police on 15 August 1892. ‘Three years later, after serving at Old Street (’G’ or Finsbury Division), he was appointed to the Criminal Investigation Department, and transferred to the Convict Supervision Office (now the Criminal Record Office). He was promoted to Inspector in 1918, and to Chief Inspector in 1922. He has been in charge of the Criminal Record Office since 1920. Mr. Fair has been described as the “Who’s Who” of crime. He is responsible for the issue of the Police Gazette and Supplements, Police Informations, Stolen Car Lists, Weekly lists of Releases from Prison &c. He is in charge of Crime (Method) Index, Prisoners’ Property, and Supervision of Convicts on Licence. He has served under five Commissioners, and is in the 39th year of his service’ (article in The Police Review, announcing the award of Fair’s K.P.M. refers).

Fair retired from the Metropolitan Police on 28 September 1931, and was presented with his King’s Police Medal by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 26 February 1932. For some years he was also the curator of the Metropolitan Police’s famous ‘Black Museum’, where the relics of many notorious crimes are kept. He died in South Holmwood, Surrey, on 6 April 1944.

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