British Police History

Leeds City Police

1836 - 1974

Leeds City Police was established 2 April 1836 and 1 April 1974 became part of West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police.

Victorian Helmet Plates

Glazed hats were worn by Leeds City Police until moving to helmets with their clothing tender of 1867. In 1863, on the recommendation of the Chief Constable, a collar badge was added to the uniform representing the shield portion of the Borough Arms.

Chief Constable Paterson

Chief Constable Alexander Paterson

A native of Glenmuick, near Ballater, Mr Alexander James Paterson was an Arts and Law graduate of Aberdeen. Mr Paterson joined the Aberdeen City Police Force in 1932 as a Constable, after taking his MA degree at Aberdeen University.

While a beat Constable in Aberdeen, he studied for and took his Bachelor of Law degree. Withn 12 years he rose to the rank of Superintendent. In 1944, he was awarded the BEM for Civil Defence work and two years later became the city's Deputy Chief Constable.

He left the Aberdeen force as a Chief Superintendent in 1949 to become Chief Constable of Salford, near Manchester. In 1956, the year he became Chief Constable of Leeds, he received the Queen's Police medal.

Mr Paterson was Chief Constable of Leeds City Police until his death at an Interpol assembly in Japan in 1967. He was the first police officer trained in Scotland to head an English Constabulary.

Sources

Aberdeen Press and Journal, 29 September 1967, 6 February 1969 *

* The British Newspaper Archive

Leeds City Police PC 30 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)

Leeds City Police PC 249 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)

Leeds City Police PC 535 (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)

Leeds City Police Detectives

First Row:
Detective Officer Gunton Detective Sergeant Watson Chief Detective Inspector Bates Major G.G. Tarry Chief Constable Detective Inspector Handley Detective Sergeant Freer Detective Officer Lister

Second Row:
Detective Officer Wright Detective Officer Fowler Detective Sergeant Adams Detective Inspector Wilson Detective Sergeant Hignett Detective Officer Hewitt Detective Officer Wakefield Detective Officer Clough Detective Officer Dalton

Third Row:
Detective Officer Cunnington Detective Officer Stainton Detective Officer Kitchen Detective Officer Bradley Detective Officer Eburne Detective Officer Rhodes Detective Officer Milburn

Leeds City Police (Submitted by Ray Ricketts)