Chief Inspector Edward Parker

SCOTLAND YARD.
NEW HEAD FOR SPECIAL BRANCH.

A POPULAR APPOINTMENT.

The London "Daily Telegraph" understands that Chief Inspector Edward Parker is to succeed Superintendent James McBrien - a superintendent of the Special Branch, New Scotland Yard.
When Mr. McBrien resigned his position recently (writes a special correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") the hope was expressed throughout all ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department, with which the Special Branch is connected, that his successor would be Chief Inspector Parker.
Mr. Parker is the fifth chief of the Special Branch since its formation during the Fenian outrages, half a century ago. The first superintendent was that shrewd and genial detective, Mr. Littlechild. He was succeeded by Mr. Melville, an exceptionally able officer, who dealt a death-blow to anarchism in England. He died only a few years before his son, Sir James Melville, K.C., M.P., was appointed Solicitor-General in the Socialist Government. Mr. Patrick Quin was the third chief, and he was knighted on his retirement ten years ago for his work during the war. Then followed Mr. James McBrien, who was dreaded by all political criminals, and held in the highest esteem by the King and Queen, and other members of the Royal Family.
Mr. Edward Parker has had 36 years' service in the Metropolitan police force. He has spent nearly all that time in the Special Branch, which provides the officers who guard Royalty and deals with all political offenders and the registration of aliens. On many occasions he has been in close attendance on Their Majesties. He accompanied the Prince of Wales to Canada ten years ago. But it has been in the intricacies of hard detective work that Mr. Parker has always distinguished himself. The suffragettes in their militant campaign, the Sinn Feiners in their violent escapades, the innumerable spies in England during the war, the Bolshevik agents in their attempts to undermine the State, and the Communists in their frantic efforts to induce people to take them seriously - all provided him with the work he loves.
Perhaps the quaintest duty he had to perform was to go into the witness-box and prove to three judges and a jury that war had been declared between Great Britain and Germany. It was during the trial at the Law Courts of Roger Casement, the Irish renegade, and in order to prove the charge of high treason it was necessary there should be evidence before the Court that a state of war existed. Mr. Parker went into the witness-box and produced the Order in Council proclaiming the war.

Source: The Mercury, Wednesday 5 February 1930, page 7