The year 1857 was a landmark in the history of the Scottish Police for the Police (Scotland) Act of that year, in repealing the 1839 Act, called for the establishment of a sufficient paid full-time Police Force in each County by 15 March 1858.

The principal provisions of the 1857 Act were -

The members of the first Police Committee were:

On Tuesday 13th October 1857, seventy five of the Commissioners of Supply for the County of Lanark, under the chairmanship of Lord Belhaven, met in the County Hall, Hamilton, at a General Meeting specially convened to implement the provisions of the Police (Scotland) Act 1857, which required the setting up of the Police Forces.

For police purposes, the County was divided into three wards, namely

It was noted at the meeting that the District of Airdrie already had a Police Force in existence, since an Act of Parliament in 1846, which had operated in the Northern part of the County including Old & New Monkland, Shotts and part of Bothwell. The Rural force operated very successfully, with one Superintendent and 44 Sergeants and Constables. It was only after some legal debate that the new County force incorporated the Airdrie Rural Police (Airdrie Burgh Police remained a separate force). Such was the appreciation of the work of the Rural force that the Superintendent was paid £190 per annum and the other Superintendents £150 per annum.

The County had been fortunate in having George McKay as its first Chief Constable. Not only was he an efficient administrator, but he was supported by a committee of gentlemen who appreciated the value of a good police force. He had previously served with Renfrewshire Police and latterly The City of Glasgow Police as Superintendent in charge of the Detective Department.

The force consisted of:

To mark the centenary of the inauguration of the Lanarkshire Constabulary a committee was established to prepare for various celebrations. The committee was:

On 13th October 1957, a church parade and service were held in the Old Parish Church, Lanark conducted by the Rev. R. Russell Brown.

During the centenary service, Sir John Mann, Convenor of the County Council of Lanark presented the Constabulary colours, consisting of the Queen's colour and the Constabulary standard to commemorate the Centenary. It is believed that the Lanarkshire Constabulary was the only police force, at that time, to possess a County Council standard or colours. The flag was devised and authorised by the Lord Lyon, King-of-Arms.

On passing the colours over Sir John Mann said:

The colours were then dedicated by the minister.

The flag consists of a purple background with a white saltire cross in the upper left. Centre, a yellow circle bearing the legend "The County Council of the County of Lanark", encircled by a total of 8 thistles, slipped at the second, and the whole surmounted by a green crown of five points, with a bound sheaf enclosed between each two points.

The centre of the circle has a white background to the wedge of the bottom third, being the red heart of Douglas, and the upper two thirds bearing two lilies. It is scrolled on the left "Lanarkshire 1857" and on the right "Constabulary 1957' with the force motto 'Vigilantia' (Vigilance) inscrolled along the bottom, below the centre piece.

After the service, the colours were at the head of the parade and the salute was taken at the church doors by the Secretary of State, Mr. John S. Maclay.

There were over 100 male and 12 female police officers who took part in the ceremony and parade representing the police divisions and Hamilton Headquarters. The parade was led by the band of the 6th/7th Cameronians.

The force also held a series of 8 concerts throughout the County, which were all very well attended:

A cine film of the celebrations was also made.