BY GRAHAM MAJOR
The Birkenhead Market opened in July of 1835 on what is now the site of the Town Hall. After fires in 1965 and 1974, the Market was relocated to the Grange Shopping Centre Precinct in 1977.
In 1845, the Birkenhead Borough Police provided three Officers for duty in the Market. The Birkenhead Market Constables, like those of Manchester Market Police and Liverpool Markets Police are not attested as Constables.
The following events give us a glimpse into the duties of Birkenhead Market Constables through the years:
- In April 1871, Market Constable Thomas Philips arrested a man found asleep at just after 7:00am, drunk in the vault of a wine merchant. The prisoner was taken to the bridewell and charged with breaking and entering and theft.
- In 1879, a Mr A R Jones was appointed Market Constable.
- In June 1884, a man was arrested after he stabbed Market Constable James Cross whilst being removed for acting suspiciously near a Market shop. He was sentenced to five years penal servitude for this offence.
- In late 1886, Abia Jones, Market Constable, was dismissed for reasons that are not known.
- Joseph Hoyle was appointed Market Constable at a wage of 21/- per week in May of 1888.
- In January 1889, a woman described of ill repute was sentenced to six months in prison for being drunk and disorderly after being arrested by Market Constable Farlam.
A Market Constable clothing tender from 1889
A Market Constable clothing tender from 1889
A Market Constable clothing tender from 1889
- In March 1893, John Newton was given one month in prison after being arrested by Market Constable Leigh for theft from a stall.
- A number of newspaper reports were published in 1895 of arrests made by Market Constable Chowderoy for various offences including theft and drunk and disorderly.
- In September 1910, two youths were fined for disorderly conduct after being detained by the Market Constable.
- A 15 year old boy was fined 20/- in 1917 for theft of tools from a Market stall, evidence being given by a Market Constable.
- In August 1920, a woman was arrested by Market Constable Leake for theft of goods to the value of £1 7/- 8d. She was given six months probation for the offence. Also, in August of that year, Market Constable Parry gave evidence against a number of youths accused of theft. The boys, who were said to all be of good character, received a caution.
- In late 1933, it was reported Market Constable Stubbs was injured in a road traffic accident whilst journeying to work.
1962 Advertisement for a Market Inspector
1962 Advertisement for a Market Inspector
1962 Advertisement for a Market Inspector
Market Security Officer Vince Cootes, 1989
- In October 1968, the Borough advertised for a Market Constable at a salary of £14 13/- 10d for a forty hour, five day week.
- On 11th February 1969, a deliberate fire was started in the Market annex. Despite the efforts of Market Constables to contain it, Fire brigades from Birkenhead, Liverpool, Wallasey and Cheshire were required to attend and some £60,000 worth of damage was done.
- By the 1980s, the title of "Market Constable" had ceased to be used and "Market Security Officer" had come into use.
- In February of 1989, Market Security Officer Vince Cootes received glowing praise after a woman was mugged and her handbag stolen in the Market. He gave her cash out of his own pocket for her fare home and alerted her bank to the incident.
- In June 1991, Market Security Officer Frank Downey rendered first aid to a young boy who required over 200 stitches to a head injury he received after being hit by a roof fan whilst riding on his uncle's shoulders in a Market cafe.
- In December 1999, retail Security Officers including Frank Downey of the Market received National Vocational Qualifications after a period of retail protection training.
Market Security Officer Frank Downey, far right, 1999
Market Security Officer Frank Downey, far right, 1999
Market Security Officer Frank Downey, far right, 1999
- In December 2019, Wirral Council suspended two Market Security Officers who had confronted youths running amok. They claimed their actions amounted to gross misconduct and brought the Council into disrepute. The men were reinstated after three months. During the period they were absent officers from the Wirral Community Patrol were deployed to bolster numbers in the Market.
The Council currently retain a single Market Security Officer working 35 hours a week.
Sources
- Wirral Borough Council
- Wirral History website
- Liverpool Mercury, 18 April 1871
- Liverpool Echo, 23 June 1884, 16 November 1962, 11 October 1968, 27 March 1969
- Birkenhead News, 13 December 1879, 02 May 1888, 02 August 1884, 25 December 1886, 26 January 1889, 11 May 1889, 18 March 1893, 17 September 1910, 17 February 1917, 04 August 1920, 21 August 1920, 08 February 1989, 08 December 1999
- Liverpool Evening, Express 02 August 1932
- Liverpool Daily Post, 14 June 1991
- Liverpool Echo, 03 December 2019, 10 March 2020
