History

Researching your Police Ancestors
Family history research is very popular as a result of fascinating genealogy TV programmes and the availability of the Internet. If your ancestor was a police officers then you can count yourself fortunate as they will have left a, ‘paper trial.’
For instance, you can view the original personnel records of Portsmouth police officers from the 1830s onwards, at Portsmouth Record Office. As an added bonus, from the early days of photography in 1860s the records include a photograph. The record will include any disciplinary offences in great detail. Was your ancestor the constable found drunk one morning on Portsmouth High Street and when his sergeant and another colleague went to ‘remove him’ from the street, he assaulted the pair of them! Drunkenness on duty was a common problem in the police in the 19th century. The records are ‘closed’ for 80 years from date of joining. So they are open pre 1930.
At Portsmouth Record Office they allow you to photograph the fragile documents using a digital camera. Practice at home first with flash off. Police history books on sale.
At Hampshire Record Office at Winchester you can view, on microfiche, the two-page Examination Book of all Hampshire Constabulary officers from 1839 up to 1926 (at present). These show full details of the officer, such as parish of birth, eye colour, whether he could read or write, previous employer, and if he belonged to a a private health scheme such as that run by the Oddfellows – no NHS then! No photography allowed but you can photocopy the micro-fiche.
The second page listed all postings. It was successive chief constable’s policy to moved constables every five years to a new station as it was feared (with good reason) that they would become, “too familiar with local ale house keepers.”
The Southampton Archives are in the basement of the Civic Centre. They have limited open days so check their web site. You can read the original Watch Committee Minute Books that list the hiring and firing of constables and their mis-deeds. One 19th century constable was disciplined after being reported as having been seen drinking coffee on his beat, in a ‘Coffee Shop!’ Photography allowed there. Police history book on sale.
There are force history books available through Amazon or local book shops, see our web site at bottom.
Don’t forget you can research past editions of Frontline, they go back ten years, using Google. Example; search on: “Hoddinott” site:www.hampshire.police.uk
http://hampshireconstabularyhistory.org.uk/

Researching your Police Ancestors

Family history research is very popular as a result of fascinating genealogy TV programmes and the availability of the Internet. If your ancestor was a police officers then you can count yourself fortunate as they will have left a, ‘paper trial.’

For instance, you can view the original personnel records of Portsmouth police officers from the 1830s onwards, at Portsmouth Record Office. As an added bonus, from the early days of photography in 1860s the records include a photograph. The record will include any disciplinary offences in great detail. Was your ancestor the constable found drunk one morning on Portsmouth High Street and when his sergeant and another colleague went to ‘remove him’ from the street, he assaulted the pair of them! Drunkenness on duty was a common problem in the police in the 19th century. The records are ‘closed’ for 80 years from date of joining. So they are ‘open’ pre 1930.

At Portsmouth Record Office they allow you to photograph the fragile documents using a digital camera. Practice at home first with flash off. Police history books on sale.

At Hampshire Record Office at Winchester you can view, on microfiche, the two-page Examination Book of all Hampshire Constabulary officers from 1839 up to 1926 (at present). These show full details of the officer, such as parish of birth, eye colour, whether he could read or write, previous employer, and if he belonged to a a private health scheme such as that run by the Oddfellows – no NHS then! No photography allowed but you can photocopy the micro-fiche.

The second page of the Examination Book listed all postings. It was successive chief constable’s policy to moved constables every five years to a new station as it was feared (with good reason) that they would become, “too familiar with local ale house keepers.”

The Southampton Archives are in the basement of the Civic Centre. They have limited open days so check their web site. You can read the original Watch Committee Minute Books that list the hiring and firing of constables and their mis-deeds. One 19th century constable was disciplined after being reported as having been seen drinking coffee on his beat, in a ‘Coffee Shop!’ Photography allowed there. Police history book on sale.

There are force history books available through Amazon or local book shops.

Don’t forget you can research past editions of Frontline, they go back ten years, using Google. Example; search on: “Hoddinott” site:www.hampshire.police.uk

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2008 Recently published by Phillimore and the HC History Society
a reprint of the illustrated 1966 book by Ian A. Watt

A History of the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary 1839 – 1966

Available from local bookshops or on Amazon worldwide. ISBN 1-86077-383-4

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Phillimore & Co Ltd

“INTERNET LAW BOOK REVIEWS Provided by Rob Jerrard LLB LLM (London)

A History Of The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary 1839-1966

Edition: 2006 (1st Published in 1967)

Author: Ian A Watt

ISBN: 1860773834

Publishers: Phillimore and Co Ltd

Price £15.99

Publication Date: Sept 2006

Publisher’s Title Information

This book takes the reader through the enthralling, and often surprising, history of Hampshire policing between 1839 and 1966. Any fond notions the reader may have that the task’ of maintaining law and order in rural areas was in any way tranquil or mundane will quickly be corrected.

Those early police officers endeared harsh discipline, demanding working practices and punishing working hours – often without any public support. Included in this unique study is a wealth of material from former officers’ records and memoirs, from which the author has vividly recreated the working lives and adventures of those officers who served before 1967, when all Hampshire police forces were required to amalgamate.

Here you will find stories of riots, murder and strikes, encompassing the breadth of both human endeavour and human failure. Throughout, the professionalism, loyalty and dignity of the former officers is epitomised.

lan A Watt’s comprehensively researched book was initially published in 1967. The Hampshire Constabulary Historical Society has commissioned this new edition in order to keep alive its valuable historical information and to make the exciting history of ordinary Hampshire officers available to the public – whether local historian or crime aficionado -once more.

It includes a comprehensive index and new illustrations. These fascinating tales of the ‘beat bobbies’ of yesteryear will appeal to anyone living in the Hampshire area or researching the history of British policing.

The Author

A native of Aberdeen, Ian A. Watt attended both Aberdeen University- and Merton College; Oxford, gaining an MA (Hons) in history at the former and an MA (Hons) in Philosophy; Politics and Economics at the latter. Military service intruded into his studies; but seems not to have affected the outcome!

He was appointed to the staff of the Police College in 1954 as a civilian tutor. Promotion to the post of Sub-Dean of Academic Studies came in 1962, and from 1974 to 1986 he was Dean of Academic Studies. On retirement he was awarded the honorary title of Dean Emeritus.

Ian spent some time in America, undertaking roles including visiting professor at the John Jay College of Criminal justice, keynote speaker at the ACJS Conference in Reno in 1974 and lecturer at the University of Lexington, Connecticut. He has been a visiting scholar and associate professor at die University of Illinois, Chicago; where he taught courses in British police history.

It is interesting to note, that I nearly came in on the very last paragraph of this splendid history of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. The years covered for that force are 1839 – 1966, because after that on 1 April 1967 the force ended its separate existence to amalgamate with the forces of Portsmouth and Southampton to become the Hampshire Constabulary.

The reason I nearly came into the story is because I am a Portsmouth boy and when I left the Royal Navy it had been my intention to join Portsmouth City Police. In spite of an exciting childhood, apart from brief stays at police stations after running away I had managed to avoid them so far. However, since it was now no more and Hampshire had no vacancies, like Dick Whittington I went to London town. It was my intention to later transfer to my home county, however this wish never came about.

I spent my childhood in Hampshire, much of it on bicycles and later motorcycles. I know it well and am delighted to have this important reprint catalogue the superb record of its Police, first published in 1967.

The history is divided into five books. Books 4 and 5, 1915-1940 and 1940-1967 will be within the memory of many of those still living. Previous to that those earlier officers will have passed on. In August 1914 Special Constables were introduced for the first time and as a badge of office they wore an armlet on their left upper arm when they were on duty, plus they were issued with a warrant card. An example of this can be seen in a photograph on my website at http://www.rjerrard.co.uk/law/city/cityphotos.html

It hasn’t been positively identified but suggestions have been made that this officer was in the Met or Essex Constabulary. One piece of advice never offered to me was that they should carry some food in their pockets.

Further on in time we learn that at the outbreak of WWII the first Police Reserve stepped forward, reservists were called up and there was a newly-formed Police War Reserve. Again further assistance was rendered by Specials.

On 1 April 1943 the Police Forces of Winchester and the Isle of Wight were amalgamated with the Hampshire Constabulary.

This is a very well written history. Reading through the pages reminds me of many of the place names that are familiar to me and I am pleased that the Hampshire Constabulary History Society decided to publish a new edition for the public to enjoy and historians to add to their libraries of force history.

There is a very comprehensive Index and some fine old photographs

Rob Jerrard

Policing in the 19th Century

Whitway Petty Sessions held on Tuesday May 25th. 1868,

before Wm Fox, Esq.


William Moss brought up in custody, charged with begging on the 24th inst, at Kingsclere. P.C. 46 Kearl said that he was on duty in Kingsclere on Sunday last in plain clothes. The prisoner came to him and asked for alms, when he took him into custody and charged him with begging.

The magistrates asked him what he had to say for himself when he stated that he had been at work with a threshing machine lately, but had his clothes stolen from him, and he could not now get employment.

He belonged to Highclere, his mother when he was about four years old, put him down at the Union Workhouse gate at Kingsclere and left him there he was taken into the Union and dragged up there.

The magistrates told him that he ought to be better employed than begging and sentenced him to 14 days imprisonment at Winchester.

Job Rawlins, ash gatherer, of Tadley, was summoned for leaving his horse and cart on the highway at Baughurst, causing an obstruction. Ordered to pay 10s,(50 pence)  which was paid. more…

Research: Andy Reid