Ian Brown spent almost 30 years in the Force, rising through the ranks to work on some of the best-known crimes of the 20th century.
From witnessing the brutality of the Krays to chasing the spoils from the Brink's-Mat gold bullion robbery, Brown was never far away from an illicit deal or a hardened crook. Renowned for being one of the luckiest members of the Sweeney, he foiled London's most dangerous armed robbers, had the ear of the most prolific informants and helped put away murderers including the notorious killer Kenneth Noye.
Commended for his bravery, Brown headed a drug squad in the Caribbean, where he became immersed in drug cartels and money laundering on an epic scale. He captured and destroyed the biggest haul of cocaine in Caribbean history, seized tons of cannabis and helped locate America's Most Wanted.

London Police Pensioner

The author joined the then Cumberland Constabulary in 1963 but soon transferred to the Met, where he served until 1990, retiring as a detective chief inspector following a two year contract as an assistant superintendent in the British Virgin Islands
His connection with the Kray case was peripheral: he was an Aide to CID (trainee detective) engaged in guarding one of the witnesses before the trial. For the rest of his career, however, he was in the thick of it. He had two tours of duty with the Flying Squad and was later part of the team investigating the Brink’s Mat gold bullion robbery. His secondment to the Royal Virgin Island Police saw him leading a very successful drugs squad.

He has an easy-reading style and there are the usual self-deprecating anecdotes that most coppers can tell about their time in the job. Very enjoyable

Police History Society