Lord Dear
Geoffrey James Dear was born on the 20th September 1937. He is a Cross Bench peer and retired British Police Officer.
Political Career
On 2nd May 2006, Lord Dear was created a life peer as Baron Dear of Willersey in the County of Gloucestershire. Lord Dear’s political interests include home affairs, criminal justice and rural affairs. In 2008, he was successful in opposing the government’s intention to extend the time in which suspected terrorists could be held without charge from 28 days to 42 days in the House of Lords.
In 2012 he was able to successfully amend the Public Order Act 1986 in order to protect freedom of speech in public. This year he was able to lower the threshold test for the creation of ASBOs from conduct likely to cause ‘harassment, alarm or distresses’ to nuisance or annoyance. During his time in parliament, he has been on a number of committees including the EU Sub Committee A-for economic and financial affairs and the EU Sub Committee F for Home Affairs.
Education
He was educated at Fletton Grammar School. He is a Fellow of University College, London and an honorary fellow of Birmingham City University.
