John Hermon

Sir John Charles Hermon (23 November 1928 – 6 November 2008) was the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1980 to 1989.

Early life 'Jack' Hermon was born in Castletown, Islandmagee, County Antrim, to William Rowan Hermon, a building contractor, and his wife, Agnes. He had a grammar school education and gave up an early career in accountancy to join the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1950.

He became Chief Constable in 1980, after an attachment to Scotland Yard. As Chief Constable, he changed the interview processes of terrorist suspects at the Castlereagh interrogation centre. An anonymous former interrogator has claimed that "The new chief constable was completely against any mistreatment of prisoners whatsoever...we started to detect a change .... straight away." Hermon is thought to have believed that the allegations of mistreatment were harming relations between the RUC and the wider communities. He retired in 1989, and became the longest-serving Chief Constable of the RUC. She held the North Down seat from 2001 to 2019.

Politics In 1998, Hermon campaigned for a yes vote during the Good Friday Agreement referendum.

Death Hermon suffered from Alzheimer's disease from at least 2004 until his death on 6 November 2008, at age 79. He died in a nursing home in Bangor.

Honours Hermon was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1975 Birthday Honours. He was knighted in the 1982 New Year Honours and received the Queen's Police Medal in the 1988 Birthday Honours.

Publications Holding the Line (1997 autobiography)