Alec Eist

Alexander Anthony Eist (known as Alec) BEM (26 March 1929 – 27 January 1982) was a detective at Scotland Yard during the 1960s and 1970s. He is particularly notable for the many allegations of corruption made against him. These included complicity in jewel robberies and providing false alibis to criminals. He later provided testimony to the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations regarding the assassination of Martin Luther King, whose killer—James Earl Ray—had been in his custody following Ray's escape to London in 1968.

Eist served in the Merchant Navy during the Second World War, for which he was decorated. As a policeman, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for bravery in 1968, following his disarming of a man with a rifle. Despite the allegations of corruption that followed him for much of his career – and resulted in his being returned to uniform police duties before retirement and then facing a failed prosecution after it – Eist was never convicted of any such crimes. Throughout his career, Eist was awarded several decorations for conduct and bravery. Following his retirement, he ran the 'Green Man' pub in Six Mile Bottom, Cambridgeshire.