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Arthur Hambleton

1915 – 2012

Chief Constable of Dorset Police

Police officer Royal Marine
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About Arthur Hambleton

Lived 1915 – 2012 (aged 96). Arthur Hambleton was a police officer and royal Marine.

Arthur Hambleton (29 October 1915 – 10 October 2012) was a police officer in Dorset Police. He is notable for his involvement in Operation Countryman.

Hambleton was born in Leeds on 29 October 1915. He was one of 12 children. He left school at 16, and worked, at his father's behest, at a butcher's shop. He did so for six years before, in 1937, he joined West Riding Police, the police force which at the time covered the West Riding of Yorkshire. He served with the force until 1942, when he joined the Royal Marines. He became an officer in 1943, and was mentioned in dispatches, eventually becoming a captain.

In March 1945 he fought in a battle to take the Küsten Canal, suffering multiple wounds to the head and buttocks. He refused to be evacuated, and was awarded the Military Cross as a result.

He was particularly notable for heading up one of the first major corruption investigations into the Metropolitan Police, Operation Countryman, before retiring in February 1980.

Hambleton died in 2012 and is buried at St Laurence's Church, Upwey.

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Important facts

Birth century
Positions held
Chief Constable of Dorset Police
Awards
Officer of the Order of the British Empire; Commander of the Order of the British Empire

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Arthur Hambleton's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Arthur Hambleton?

Chief Constable of Dorset Police

When was Arthur Hambleton born?

Arthur Hambleton was born on 29 October 1915 in Leeds.

When did Arthur Hambleton die?

Arthur Hambleton died on 10 October 2012.

What was Arthur Hambleton's occupation?

Arthur Hambleton was a police officer and royal Marine.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Arthur Hambleton

· Wikidata: Q115208301

· DBpedia: Arthur Hambleton

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Arthur Hambleton. https://biography.guide/arthur-hambleton/

MLA: "Arthur Hambleton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/arthur-hambleton/.

Chicago: "Arthur Hambleton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/arthur-hambleton/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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