26/01/2021
Remembering Detective Constable John Fordham murdered on the 26th of January 1985. John was 45 years old, one of the Met’s most experienced surveillance officers and had been deployed, as part of a team investigating Noye’s involvement in laundering of £26 million of bullion from the Brinks Mat heist, to undertake surveillance in the vicinity of the home of Kenneth Noye’s home in West Kingsdown, Kent.
Seeing Brian Reader arrive, someone well known to the Police, John and his partner moved closer to see more clearly what was happening. However, Noye’s Rottweilers discovered the pair. Noye and Reader challenged John, who was unarmed, and dressed in black clothing and wearing a balaclava. What happened next was not witnessed by anyone else but those involved. John was stabbed 10 times and died shortly after. Noye and Reader stood trial for the murder but were acquitted by the jury.
Kenneth Noye was jailed for 14 years, serving 9, for conspiring to handle gold and conspiring to evade VAT payments. After his release, in May 1996, he fatally stabbed Stephen Cameron, in a road rage row. Noye served almost 21 years of a 25-year sentence. He is now living amongst us.
Brian Reader is also amongst us. Recently released from prison and serving just 3 years, following his conviction for the Hatton Gardens heist.
As a Detective Sergeant, attached to the Anti-Terrorist Branch (SO13), I was seconded onto the team to assist in the investigation. This was a period when the system for undertaking major investigations was undergoing a lot of changes. HOLMES was just being introduced, superseding MICA which had been more of a hindrance than a help. SO13 were the only unit experienced in working with these systems at the time and so, together with two other Detectives from SO13 and a few specially trained WPC's, were called on to assist.
Based at Tintagel House and working alongside officers from the Flying Squad and other specialist units, we worked at putting the cases together, both in relation to John’s murder and the laundering of the proceeds from the Brinks Matt bullion robbery. From evidence gathered I arrested most of Noye’s closest family for various offences in relation to handling proceeds from the bullion robbery. Sadly, the juries also found them not guilty.
Some years after I left the Police, and a few times since, I have been privileged to meet John’s son – now an accomplished musician, a saxophonist, with a world-renowned Jive Band. I am sure John would be very proud of his son’s achievements.
Sadly, in my police service, and when working with SO13, I was directly involved in the investigations into the murder of several Police officers and close colleagues. In very few cases, if any, has justice been served. The people I worked with were dedicated and professional and in many cases suffered the physical and mental scars of having undertaken these investigations.
We should never forget the officers who have given their lives on behalf of us all.
Rest in peace John
