|BRITISH POLICE HISTORY
British Police History

Birmingham City Police

1839 - 1974

After the Bull Ring riots had been suppressed, the public were bitterly incensed against the London Police, who had been sent down to quell the disorder. The Duke of Wellington, in a speech in Parliament, admitted that grossly unjustifiable brutality had been resorted to. In Birmingham the Londoners were denounced as an "unconstitutional and bloodthirsty Force."

No sooner was quietude restored than the Birmingham people demanded the removal of the visiting Force, and a Police Force of their own. Commissioner Burgess, who had been sent down by Government in charge of the London Police, was instructed to remain for three years to organise the new Birmingham Force and place it upon a sound working footing. His offices were in Union-street, just below the Library, and in October, 1839, the first batch of recruits were sworn in. The Commissioner had a salary of £800 a year, and his deputy, Mr. Shaw, £300. A Constable's pay in Birmingham at that time was 16s. a week.

The new Police Force numbered nearly 400 men, and was divided up into four divisions. Superintendent Stephens, who had formerly been an Inspector at Bristol, took charge of the first division, whose headquarters were at Beardsworth's; Captain Maturin, who had also been out with the Spanish Legion, commanded the 2nd at the Sandpits, the 3rd division had its station at Staniforth-street, under Superintendent Rolfe, and the 4th, under Captain Atkins, was located in Cardigan-street. The Superintendents of divisions received about £150 a year. The men had no uniforms to start with but at length the uniform arrived. The headgear consisted of a canister hat, covered at the top with patent leather, and with a strap and a bit of whalebone down each side. Anything more unsuitable for Police duty could not have been devised, Immediately a Policeman got into a street scrimmage - and there were rows at that time, for the people had by no means forgotten the rough treatment that had been dealt out in the Bull Ring - off would go the Policeman's helmet, and the Officer's defenceless cranium would immediately present a target for brickbats and bludgeons. It was not until Prince Albert suggested the shape of a serviceable helmet, on the principle of the one at present in use, that Policemen were properly protected about the head. Summer uniform included a pair of white trousers which the men supplied from their own wages, buying the material and taking it to a tailor to be made up.

The engagement of Commissioner Burgess was only for three years, and at the end of that time he returned to London. The Corporation then advertised for a Chief Superintendent, and the choice of the Watch Committee lay between Superintendent Stephens, Captain Atkins; and Captain Maturin. Captain Atkins ran Mr. Stephens a very close race, but the latter was finally, chosen. By this time the ratepayers had commenced to grumble very loudly over the cost of the Police Force. Up to the time of the riots the town had done without a Police Force at all. Four "runners" under the command of Bill Hall had managed to do all the Detective work that was needed in those good old times. A force of nearly 400 men meant a tremendous jump to the other extreme, and the citizens who had to pay the piper begrudged every penny of the extra expenditure. On the departure of the Commissioner the Corporation resolved to retrench in every possible direction. The new Chief Superintendent was offered a salary of no more than £250, and his deputy £150. It soon became necessary to find a new station for the 1st Division. The repository was wanted for another purpose, so a move was made to New-street, where the Police Station stood for some years.

Mr. George Glossop served 37 years in the Birmingham Police, and prior to his connection with that town he had been an Officer in the Bristol Force. He moved through the ranks from Constable to Sub-Inspector, Detective, Deputy Chief and was appointed Chief Constable in 1858. It was not until Mr. Glossop became Chief Constable that the borough was split up into five Police Divisions, Staniforth street Station had long been closed, and the Division moved to Duke-street. Cardigan-street Station had also been done away with, and from the Sandpits a move was made to a new station in Kenion-street. Moor-street was now the headquarters of the 1st Division; the 4th Division was at Alcester-street, and on Mr. Glossop's recommendation another station was built at Five Ways for the Edgbaston district.

On 1st April, 1974 Birmingham City Police became part of West Midlands Police. 

Sources
  1. Police Review and Parade Gossip, 12 June 1893

The Birmingham Water Guard Specials and Their Medal

In response to a circular issued by the Home Secretary to establish registers of men who were willing to serve as members of a reserve of Special Constables, the Birmingham Watch Committee published the full details as to the conditions of service for such a new body of men with reference to Birmingham in June of 1912. These Special Constables, when called out for duty, were to be attested under the Special Constables Act, 1831. No uniform was to be provided but they were to be supplied with an armlet, badge and staff. If they so required, pay would be arranged at the rate of 3s. 6d. per day during the time they performed police duty but it was hoped public spirited citizens willing to serve the city without pay in time of emergency would enrol their name on the register. Fifty-three men came forward and registered but their services were never requisitioned.

The recruiting for a Special Constabulary for Birmingham was renewed in September of 1914 when the Chief Constable of the Birmingham City Police, Mr Charles Haughton Rafter, advertised for Special Constables with 186 enrolments being the result. As on the previous occasion, these men were not immediately brought up for service but the need would soon arise. The decision to place Special Constables on the streets was eventually forced upon the Watch Committee partly by enlistments of the Birmingham City Police Officers and partly owing to the fact that between 300 and 400 Officers were assigned guard duties and other semi-military work leaving the Force well under strength for its policing duties in the City.

In compliance with the request of the Watch Committee, Chief Constable Rafter again advertised in December of 1915 for citizens to enrol as Special Constables, this time without pay, for beat duty on the streets of the City. In reply he received a mere 66 applications, the first of which was Mr P E Sandlands who would later be appointed Commander of the 'B' Division Special Constabulary in January of 1917. Of the others who applied, eight were found not to be qualified and, of 57 available, 48 were engaged to serve with

 
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A Walsall Borough Police Coat of Arms Helmet Plate


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