|BRITISH POLICE HISTORY

BY GRAHAM MAJOR

Formed in 1870, it is not known under which legislation officers were appointed for the Millwall Dock Company Police. On the last day of February, 1870, Edward Lynch, a seaman, was brought before the Thames Court charged with mutiny. Giving evidence in his case was Constable John Chaplin of the Company's police who stated he had used foul language when taken into custody by himself. Lynch received four weeks hard labour.

In 1876, the Police Force sought sick pay to be given to Officers who were unwell due to work related illnesses and the Board agreed, upon proof being provided, that half pay would be granted.

One known serving Officer was in 1878 Sergeant John Mills who was still in post in 1882.

In 1884, Captain A Palmer donated one guinea to the Poplar Hospital for Accidents.

In 1889, Captain A Palmer, VC, the Company's Chief Constable, retired on the grounds of ill health with a £70 per annum pension. Mr Palmer had been the Head Constable of the former Millwall Freehold Land and Docks Company having been appointed in 1868.

In August 1889, Daniel Davey was sentenced to 8 weeks hard labour for assaulting Sergeant Hewerdine after he and a number of others broke into the dock.

The death of Alfred Ablett, a 26-year veteran of the dock police, who by 1891 had attained the rank of Sergeant and a Crimean war Victoria Cross winner, was reported in March 1897.

By 1897 the force was commanded by Superintendent Robert Hewerdine.

In August 1898, members of the Dock Police gave a display of aquatic gymnastics and other skills at the Greenwich Regatta.

Two members of the Force lost their lives serving in the Boer War and the company awarded their widows an allowance of 7/- per week.

In January, Chief Officer Captain Coke reorganised the force, establishing a rule that a civilian would not be employed whilst an old soldier was available. These old soldiers had to be at least 5' 11" and of either very good or exemplary conduct upon discharge and pass an entrance test.

In 1901, Constable C Lane was fined 10/- 6d or seven days imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly.

In November 1903, Constable Kingsley received the Royal Humane Society Medal. This was the second that year as former Constable John Trotter, now a fireman, was awarded his for a dock rescue in February.

On the 15th December 1903 the Globe reported Officers had now been issued with sticks with a curved handle to defend themselves. These sticks were made of oak with a curved end being designed to grab offenders by the neck, arm or ankle.

At the end of 1903, Captain Coke approached Mr Croxton Smith of the Association of Bloodhound Breeders to assist in the provision of a suitable dog to track thieves within the docks. The request met with a mixed response and, given there is no further mention of it apart from a newspaper reference in 1908, it is likely the scheme was never pursued.

In October 1906, Frederick Willmott was sentenced to three weeks hard labour after a Dock Constable, noting his bulky appearance as he left the docks, searched him and found a bottle of stolen gin upon his person.

The final mention found of this Force is from February 1909, when Sergeant Fish arrested a male for theft of goods belonging to the Canadian Pacific Railway Company. The Millwall Dock Company Police were absorbed into the new Port of London Authority Police in 1909.

Sources
  1. Keepers of the Door, Glyn Hardwicke
  2. branches.britishlegion.org.uk/media/6544375/alfred-ablett-vc-dcm.pdf
  3. Shipping and Mercantile Gazette, 01 March 1870
  4. East London Observer, 26 January 1878, 13 July 1901, 13 February 1909
  5. Morning Post, 30 December 1882
  6. Tower Hamlets Independent and East End Local Advertiser, 14 March 1885, 06 October 1906
  7. Hull Daily Mail, 16, March 1897
  8. Shields Daily Gazette, 13 May 1897
  9. Globe, 22 August 1889, 15 December 1903
  10. Brockley News, New Cross and Hatcham Review, 26 August 1898
  11. Lloyd's Weekly Newspaper, 26 April 1903
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