Although, in common with other similar towns, Portsmouth had its watchmen and constables before 1836, little is known of them or their activities. The true history of the Portsmouth City Police Force begins in 1836 when an advertisement appeared in the Hampshire Telegraph inviting applications from all and sundry for the posts of one Superintendent, three Inspectors, three Sub-Inspectors and 24 Constables. The pay was to be 17s. a week for Constables - less a deduction in respect of uniform, and applicants were to be under 40 years of age and over 5 feet 7 inches in height.

The first Superintendent (who would now be called the Chief Constable) was Mr. Robert Elliott, and the first Police Station was in Spring Street, Landport, where an old prison was converted for the purpose. In 1843 a new station was built for £250 at the junction of St. Georges Square and Ordnance Row, Portsea. A second Police Station was built in 1862 in Pembroke Road - at the side of the Guildhall, which was at that time situate in High Street. By the time this second station was occupied the strength of the Force was one Superintendent, six Inspectors and 64 Constables. They worked in 12-hour shifts and had one day's leave per month.

The uniform of these early days consisted of a blue high-necked frock coat with silver buttons, blue or white trousers and a top hat. The helmet did not come into use until the early 1870's.

As the town grew, so the Force expanded and the growth of the former may be partly traced by the building of new Police Stations - Albert Road (1872), Guildhall (1890), Kingston Cross (1895), Fratton (1907), Eastney (1914) and Cosham (1924 - replaced by a new station in 1952), when the Borough boundaries were extended to the North side of Portsbridge. The pay of a Constable from 1865 to 1900 was 23s. per week.

The authorised strength of the Force increased very considerably over the years. In 1874 it was 120, in 1904 246, in 1924-290, 1939-321, 1947-387 and 1952-405. In 1952, the Force consisted of the Chief Constable (Mr A C West, OBE), the Assistant Chief Constable (Mr W N Wilson), six Superintendents, 19 Inspectors, 52 Sergeants and 308 Constables plus one Police Woman Inspector, two Police Women Sergeants and 15 Police Women Constables. The rapid increase in strength in the post-war years was largely due to the introduction of Police Women and to the advances in technical and specialist branches of the service, i.e., departments dealing with criminal investigation, traffic, accident prevention, photography, fingerprints, aliens, firearms, lost and found property, Civil Defence, wireless and communications, warrants and summonses, recruiting, training, scientific aids, etc.

In 1947, due to the aftermath of war, the Force was 116 under strength, but this figure was reduced slowly and steadily to approximately 45 by 1952. The main requirements for male candidates were age between 20 and 30 years, height 5ft 10in minimum (suitable men were accepted slightly below that height), minimum chest measurement 36in and they must have good education and be of good character. For women, the ages were between 22 and 34 years and the minimum height of 5ft 4in.

The basic rate of pay for male recruits was £400 per annum and for females £355, increasing to a maximum (for Constables) to £505 and £445 respectively. Promotion was by selection after passing qualifying examinations in educational police subjects.

A rent allowance was paid to those members who did not reside in police houses or quarters. A pension of half-pay was received at the end of 25 years' service, and of two-thirds pay at 30 years.

The recruit received a total of five months' training - on full pay - before he or she went out on street duty alone. Thirteen weeks of this training was carried out at a District Training Centre (Folkestone for men and Mill Meece, Staffordshire, for women), and the remainder at Portsmouth. The training was intensive and the syllabus covered theoretical and practical police work, law, physical training and drill.

Every member of the Force was qualified to render first-aid to the injured and all but a handful of the members held awards of the Royal Life Saving Society in the later years of the Force. The social side was not neglected, and a very active athletic club, catering for many kinds of sport, a club, canteens, choir and recorded music society were among the amenities available. The police wives also had an active club of their own and their choir - the Cranleigh Ladies' Choir - was quite well-known in the district.

The story would not be complete without some mention of the Special Constabulary - the invaluable volunteer arm of the Police Service. With a splendid spirit of public service these men and women assisted the regular Force in their many duties in their spare time. The strength in 1952 of this section of the Force was 130 and there were vacancies for 270 more of them to complete the peacetime establishment. However, it further declined in numbers to 116 by 1956 while the overall Force then stood at 406 officers.

1 April 1967, along with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Southampton Police, Portsmouth City Police became part of Hampshire Constabulary.