William Merrilees

Who was William Merrilees?

William Merrilees OBE QPM was Chief Constable of the Lothians and Peebles Constabulary from 1950 to 1968.

Merrilees is one of Scotland’s best known policeman, thanks to a flamboyant career involving disguise, celebrated court cases, and continual charity work. Known as "the pocket-sized detective with a battleship reputation," he was featured in the youth comic book Valiant, and painted twice by Henry Raeburn Dobson. In November 1959 he appeared on This is your Life, hosted by Eamonn Andrews, and in 1966, his memoirs “The Short Arm of the Law" were published by John Long of London.