Walsall Borough Police
| Walsall Borough Police | |
|---|---|
| Agency overview | |
| Formed | 1832 |
| Preceding agency |
|
| Dissolved | 31 March 1966 |
| Superseding agency | West Midlands Constabulary |
| Jurisdictional structure | |
| Operations jurisdiction | England |
Walsall Borough Police was a police force in the Borough of Walsall, then in Staffordshire, in England, from 1832–1966.[1][2]
History
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The force was created on 6 July 1832 with one superintendent and three constables.[1] Following the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, the force came under the control of Walsall Corporation, via a watch committee.[1] From 1857, the force had a superintendent, four sergeants and 19 constables.[1] Two plainclothes detectives were appointed in 1858.[1] At the start of the 20th century the force had 78 men.[1] The first two women constables were appointed in 1918.[1]
Following the recommendations of the 1960 Royal Commission on the Police, the force was merged, with Wolverhampton Borough Police and Dudley Borough Police, and parts of the Staffordshire Constabulary and Worcestershire Constabulary, into the West Midlands Constabulary from 1 April 1966.[1][3] Since a further merger in 1974, Walsall has been served by the West Midlands Police.
Chief officers
[edit]Until 1885, the officer leading the force was accorded the rank of Superintendent. After that date, they were Chief Constables. They were:[1]
Superintendents
[edit]Chief Constables
[edit]- 1885 – 1887: George Tewsley
- 1887 – 1900: Christopher Taylor
- 1900 – 1901: Nicholson R. Gardiner
- 1902 – 1921: Alexander Thompson
- 1921 – 1932: G. H. Ballance
- 1932 – 1952: T. Mark Watson
- 1953 – 1958: Donald Lockett
- 1958 – 1964: Kenneth Mortimer Wherly
- 1964 – 1966: Edwin Solomon
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Walsall Borough Police 1920 -1966". West Midlands Police Museum. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ "John Henry Cooke Police Ephemera". Black Country History. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ↑ Home Office circular 67-1966 announcing the force's creation
- ↑ "Infanticide, Walsall, July 14". Staffordshire Advertiser. 20 July 1833. p. 2.
Frederick West sworn. ― I am chief officer of the police at Walsall.
- ↑ "Walsall Election Committee". Staffordshire Advertiser. 17 March 1838. p. 3.
...Jonathan Ryder, superintendent of police at Walsall...
- ↑ "Dover". South Eastern Gazette. 2 April 1850. p. 5.
On Tuesday last the watch committee appointed Mr. Rofe, chief constable of Walsall, Staffordshire, superintendent of the police force...
- 1 2 "Superintendent of Police". Staffordshire Advertiser. 14 December 1850. p. 5.
Mr. John Armishaw... was sworn in as superintendent of police on Wednesday in place of Mr. Joshua Burton, resigned.
- ↑ "Walsall". Staffordshire Advertiser. 21 May 1853. p. 5.
The Walsall police force has been almost entirely remodelled lately, and, under the direction of Superintendent Bilson, is now very efficient.
- ↑ "Election of Superintendent of Police". Staffordshire Advertiser. 25 August 1855. p. 5.
...Mr. John Wyatt Cater, at present inspector of police, Bath, ... will enter upon his duties on Monday, the 3rd of September next.
