X-Nico

11 unusual facts about Special Branch


Alister Williamson

He would typically be found in television series such as Adam Adamant Lives!, The Avengers, Paul Temple, Police Surgeon, Public Eye, The Saint, Softly, Softly, Special Branch, The Third Man and Z-Cars.

Emidio Recchioni

The rumours that Recchioni was planning the death of Mussolini began in 1929, and were passed by Ovra, the Italian secret police, to Colonel Carter of the British Special Branch.

Harry Houghton

Houghton and Gee were among five spies arrested in London by Special Branch detectives on 7 January 1961.

History of St. Bees School

The investigation proceeded with Special Branch and local police officers making inquiries in London and in the area around St. Bees.

Incident at Raven's Gate

The cast of Incident at Raven's Gate included long-term Australian stage and screen actor Max Cullen, as a policeman, and Terry Camilleri as an astrophysicist attached to Special Branch, investigating unexplained radar signals in a remote South Australian country town.

John Wodehouse, 4th Earl of Kimberley

He tried again in 1953 with Cynthia Abdy Westendarp, but they too were divorced in 1961; together they had a son, Henry, who served in the Special Branch of the Metropolitan Police.

London Buses route 68

The spies Harry Houghton and Ethel Gee were trailed by a Special Branch agent when they travelled on the 68 between Waterloo Road and Walworth Road.

Operation Demetrius

On the initial list of those to be arrested, which was drawn up by RUC Special Branch and MI5, there were 450 names, but only 350 of these were found.

Seven Days to Noon

Detective Superintendent Folland (André Morell) of Scotland Yard's Special Branch is charged with tracking down Willingdon and stopping him.

Terry Camilleri

Other appearances include as Special Branch police officer Hemmings in the science fiction film Incident at Raven's Gate.

The Man from St. Petersburg

With her active support, Feliks hid himself right in the Walden home while the Special Branch was combing the entire village for him.


Aerial Phenomena Enquiry Network

During interviews in 2006 regarding an upcoming publication, author and ufologist Nick Redfern made claims that he believed that APEN had a far right wing agenda, were forming an underground organisation and were being investigated by Special Branch.

Central Intelligence Organisation

The first head of the CIO was Deputy Commissioner Ken Flower; during his tenure the BSAP Special Branch Headquarters were incorporated within the CIO, while the Special Branch retained its internal security function within the BSAP.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police

The DMP also collaborates and maintains organizational links with the Bangladesh Ansar, Border Guard Bangladesh, Special Branch, Bangladeshi intelligence community, Rapid Action Battalion and other national security agencies.

Leonard Burt

On 16 June 1945, as a Commander in the Metropolitan Police Special Branch, Burt was assigned to accompany war-time traitor William Joyce (also known as "Lord Haw-Haw") back to London to be tried for treason, after Joyce was captured by British forces in Germany.