George Maclean joined the City of Glasgow Police in 1923 and was posted to ‘E’ (Northern) Division. He was later appointed Detective Constable in the Fingerprint Department. He was promoted to Detective Sergeant (1934) and Detective Inspector (1938).
In 1942 he was promoted to Detective Lieutenant in charge of the Fingerprint Bureau, consisting of the fingerprint, criminal record and photographic branches. He changed the name to the Identification Bureau, and added a new scientific branch. He was also made a Fellow of the Royal Microscopical Society for his scientific work.
He was promoted to Detective Superintendent (1951), and in 1952 was the first person to gain a conviction on the evidence of a TOE PRINT ! A safe blower had removed his shoes to commit the crime, but had a hole in one of his socks, leaving the toe print at the scene.
He was promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent in 1956, and in 1958 he was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
In 1960 he was appointed Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable in 1963.
He received the O.B.E. in 1966 and retired that same year with 43 years Police Service.