Putting specialist knowledge to good use

Alumnus Roger Pearce (1961-69) has been putting his experiences as former Head of the Met’s Special Branch to good use, with the publication of his second work of fiction. He has also given a number of media interviews in the wake of recent revelations about Special Branch’s undercover unit.

His latest book, The Extremist, has been launched this summer, the second in a two-book deal with Coronet, an imprint of Hodder and Stoughton. As with his first book, Agent of the State, published in 2012, Roger has drawn on his first-hand experience for his second foray into the thriller genre.

Roger graduated with a BA Honours in Theology from St John’s College, Durham University, in 1972 and originally planned on becoming ordained as an Anglican priest, but instead joined Durham Constabulary before transferring to the Metropolitan Police in 1975. After joining Special Branch he also completed an external LLB Honours degree from London University, qualifying as a barrister-at-law in 1975.

He has been increasingly in demand by the national media as an expert voice, following a number of news stories in 2012 and 2013 about the Branch’s undercover unit. Since he was not only Head of Special Branch from 1999 to 2003 but also a former Director of Intelligence at the Met who authorised surveillance and undercover operations, Roger is particularly well placed to offer informed comment.

All his latest news and a video of him talking about Special Branch as the impetus for his writing can be found on his website: http://www.rogerpearce.info/

Roger has been married to Margaret for more than 40 years. They have two sons, both former QE pupils: Andrew, a composer, and Matthew, an airline pilot. Their daughter, Laura, is a personal assistant.