John Cracknell was a Metropolitan Police officer who worked with the public order unit (A8) in the 1970s. He gave evidence via a witness statement about how A8 functioned and its relationship with Special Branch.
He joined the Metropolitan Police in 1952 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Deputy Assistant Commissioner in 1982. As a chief inspector and then superintendent, he worked in the Metropolitan Police public order section from 1969 to 1972, then returned to the unit in 1975.
He commented:
My primary role was to select divisions to supply aid to the central area and compile operation orders for these demonstrations. In order that we in A8 maintained our operational experience we took command of demonstrations. I cannot now remember specific demonstrations that I attended in this period — there were so many.
The only demonstration that Cracknell comments on in any detail that he was involved with was the Blair Peach memorial event on 27 April 1980, marking the 1st anniversary of Blair's death at the hands of the Special Patrol Group.
He retired at the age of 57, at the rank of commander, within the Royal and Diplomatic Protection Department.