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
Sworn
to Serve Police in Essex 1840-1990
Edition:
1st
Author:
Maureen Scollan
ISBN:
0850339995
Publishers:
Phillimore
Price
£14.95
Publication
Date: 1993
Publisher’s Title Information
Essex
was one of the first counties to establish a full-time police force in
1840. Today's highly-trained officers
are part of a long and proud tradition in a county that was in the forefront of
the move towards setting up professional police forces. Captain John McHardy, its innovative first
Chief Constable, provided advice and trained manpower for other forces all over
Britain. Thus this well-researched
account of policing in Essex throughout the past 150 years will be of interest
at both national and local level.
The
author is uniquely qualified for the task; an historian, she was an Essex
archivist before joining the force in which she still serves as an
Inspector. She has concentrated
particularly on the work of ordinary police officers, identifying many by name,
from varied sources including police records, local newspapers and personal
recollections. This adds greatly to the human interest of her narrative, which
is much livelier and more readable than most institutional histories. For those in search of specific information
there are detailed, appendices on such subjects as uniform, manpower and
specialised departments and, of course, a full index.
About
The Author
Maureen
Scollan was born in Essex, and became captivated by local history and research
while still a schoolgirl. Living next
door to the police house in her home village helped to foster an interest in
police work, but on leaving school she was torn between becoming an archivist
or a career as a police officer; eventually she achieved both. During more than
seven years as a member of the Essex Record Office staff she worked as a
special constable in her spare time, but, after researching Essex police
history for a university diploma, decided to join the regular force; local
history then became a hobby.
Her
career in the Essex Police began at Basildon, and at the time this book was
published she had worked in both
uniform and CID, mainly in central and north Essex, apart from two secondments
outside the county. While an instructor at the Police Training Centre at Ryton-on-Dunsmore
in Warwickshire, she researched and published a book on its history in her
spare time. Promotion to inspector led
to postings in Chelmsford and at Halstead, and she was at that time (1993)
based at Essex Police Headquarters.
Having become fascinated by all aspects of the 19th century, she was in
1993 reading part-time for an MA in Victorian Studies at Birkbeck College,
University of London.
Reviewer
Wanted
Would you be interested in
reviewing this book? (The Book Above) If you are interested in providing a review in about 600/800 words within 3 months or sooner then please contact me by e-mail at robjerrard@aol.com providing a small CV and your interest in this particular book.
For an indication of what is required please see this site, which contains hundreds of examples. "Internet Law book Reviews" welcomes all categories of reviewers.