James Monro

James Monro CB (1838 – 28 January 1920) was a lawyer who became the first Assistant Commissioner (Crime) of the London Metropolitan Police and also served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis from 1888 to 1890.

Monro was born in Edinburgh, the son of George Monro, a solicitor. He was educated at Edinburgh High School, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Berlin. In 1857, he joined the Legal Branch of the Indian Civil Service. He served successively as Assistant Magistrate, Collector and District Judge in the Bombay Presidency. He then became Inspector-General of Police in the Presidency.

In 1863, Monro married Ruth Littlejohn, an Aberdeen woman.

In 1884, Monro resigned from the Indian Civil Service and returned to Britain, being appointed the first Assistant Commissioner (Crime) in London. He succeeded Howard Vincent, whose title had been Director of Criminal Investigation, as head of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Vincent had answered directly to the Home Secretary and not to the Commissioner, and thus had had the status, but not the title, of Assistant Commissioner. Monro, however, did answer to the Commissioner.

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