Sir James William Donald Crane (1 January 1921^[1] – 29 November 1994)^[2] was a British police officer who served as HM Inspector of Constabulary from 1976 to 1979;^[3] and HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales 1979–82.^[4]

After wartime service with the Royal Hampshire Regiment, he joined the Metropolitan Police in 1946.^[5]

By the early 1970s he was the Commander of the Fraud Squad .^[6] He was promoted to Deputy Assistant Commissioner^[7] and it was in this role that on 19 July 1972 he began the Poulson investigation.^[8] At the time this was the UK's biggest ever corruption inquiry:^[9] it eventually led to the resignation of Reginald Maudling, then Home Secretary and notionally in charge of the police. In 1973 Crane arrested Poulson^[10] who was later convicted.^[11]

As Chief Inspector of the Constabulary, Crane was also involved in investigating the failings of the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper.^[12]

In 1977 he was awarded CBE.^[13] On Wednesday, 23 July 1980, at Buckingham Palace, the Queen conferred the Honour of Knighthood.^[14]