|
The Early Days of Policing in Kent
Pt 4.
by Roy Ingleton
The Local Government Act, 1888
The next big policing change to affect the County
occurred in 1888 with the passing of the Local Government Act. This
introduced county councils and meant that no longer would the county
forces be controlled solely by the justices but by a standing joint
committee made up of of equal numbers of county councillors and
magistrates. In addition, small borough police forces were compulsorily
amalgamated with the surrounding county force which meant the towns
of Deal, Faversham, Hythe, Sandwich and Tenterden lost control of
their forces which were merged into the Kent County Constabulary.
In August 1894 Captain Ruxton, by then the only member of the original
Kent County Constabulary still serving, was now nearly 77 and decided
to retire. He was briefly replaced by Major Henry Edwards but he
did not last long as the following year he suddenly died.
The next Chief Constable was another military man, Lt.Col Henry
Warde. By this time to practice of appointing army officers as Chief
Constables was already being criticised. One periodical commented,
'The new Chief Constable … has had a distinguished career
as a cavalry officer, but he cannot know anything whatsoever of
police work, and soldiers, as a rule, do not make good policemen.
Such an appointment when some of the most experienced and highly
qualified police officers could have been found for the place, is
obviously a piece of unscrupulous jobbery…'
The new Chief Constable made something of a name for himself by
publicly expressing his dislike of 'mutton-chop' whiskers or 'door-knocker'
appendages on his men's chins and he decreed that they should be
clean-shaven or wear only 'military moustaches or full, well-trimmed
beards'
All applicants to the force now had to undergo a medical examination,
the main causes of rejection being ruptures, flat feet, varicose
veins, tumours, skin disease, stiffness of joints, cough, narrow
chest, weak sight and facial deformities. Although it would to be
a long time before police dogs were introduced, some of the men,
especially those on lonely country beats, were in the habit of taking
their pet dog with them, as company and possibly as protection.The
new chief constable was having none of this and ordered that the
practice must cease.
Discipline (especially alcohol-related problems) was a constant
headache for the Chief Constable and 1900 seems to have been a bumper
year for these. In November of that year, Constable Robert Swan
(Bearsted) was dismissed for
'… parading in the street of Ulcombe with others playing
a musical instrument and being at the Harrow Inn, Ulcombe, from
9 p.m. to 10.10 p.m.' and also for 'insolence and using improper
language towards his superior officer.'
Sometimes it was the favours of the opposite sex which were the
cause of downfall rather than drink or dishonesty. In 1874 Constable
George Head (Faversham) was dismissed because, when coming off duty
at midnight, he did not return to his station but was found in the
house of a common prostitute in the early hours.
Others were disciplined for marrying without permission and in one
case a constable was dismissed for '… taking a woman down
the side passage of a house whilst on duty in the uniform of the
force…' (It doesn't say what he was doing down the side
passage but I think we can guess!)
The following year Constable Valentine Betts (Dartford) was dismissed
for 'misconducting himself at Sutton-at-Hone by sitting down
in the roadway in company with a woman … who was drunk and
joining with her in singing a song called 'Slap, bang, here we are
again' … for upwards of an hour'.
In 1900 Constable Harry Adams of the Malling Division was required
to resign for -
'having behaved in a scandalous manner by corresponding with
a single woman and visiting her in Kemsing, he being a married man'.
Constable David Parsons, also of the County Force, was dismissed
in 1912 for failing to marry Miss Slingsby after so promising and
for -
'being responsible for the condition of Miss Slingsby's pregnancy'.
Even in more recent time the fairer sex have proved a temptation.
Towards the end of 1973, Inspector Brian McConnell was delegated
to escort the reigning Miss World on a visit to Hythe. He appears
to have become rather too involved with this attractive young lady
and pictures of him kissing her appeared to the national press.
Discipline proceedings were instituted in respect of this and the
fact that he had also been convicted of being drunk and disorderly
in Folkestone but he left the force on an ill-health pension before
the hearing.
The Chief Constable was a strict churchgoer and expected his men
to be equally devout. In 1900 he instructed all ranks to record
whether or not they attended Divine Service on Sundays and, if not,
why not.
Through instructions like these, Warde gained a reputation as something
of a martinet but he earned considerable respect for his work during
the Great War. He retired in 1921, to be succeeded by his deputy,
Major Harry Chapman.
The early policemen were given very little training apart from
drill and even in the years following the Great War new constables
received little assistance. A former Gravesend constable recalls
that his first day on duty was not spent learning law and police
procedures but cleaning and polishing the brasswork and windows
at the Fire Station (for which the town police were responsible).
For the next three months he was on night duty and had to pick up
the job as he went along.
In the County force, the 1920s saw a move towards proper training
and recruits received basic instruction at the County Headquarters
at Wrens Cross. They were later joined there by men from Gravesend,
Folkestone, East Sussex, West Sussex and Tunbridge Wells. Conditions
at the training school left much to be desired by modern standards.
Each day the recruits had to clean and light an old black range
on which joints of meat were placed prior to starting the morning's
lessons. Few of these recruits had any idea of cooking and consequently,
the joint was usually either raw or burnt to a cinder by lunchtime.
Apparently one recruit, being told that a boiled egg needed four
minutes to cook, calculated that 20 eggs would need 80 minutes!
Students ate, slept and had their lessons all in one barrack room,
the wooden floor of which had to be scrubbed to the satisfaction
of the Inspector before any student could leave for a short weekend
break, wearing the civilian hat which he was required to buy and
wear whenever he left the barracks.
Meanwhile, the Borough forces were growing in size and importance.
Canterbury
Towards the end of the 19th century Canterbury force had a strength
of 24 and the Kentish Gazette reported that it was one of the City
sights to see the night duty section emerge from the Police Station
and parade up the Street in Indian file, "peeling off"
at their respective beats. The last man carried a stout walking
stick to indicate that he was on the boundary beat which took him
around the lanes and footpaths to the sanatorium.
To prove he had reached the end of his beat, he had to note the
names of all the patients at the sanatorium.
Despite having to follow a fixed route the constables seem to have
managed to visit one or more of the various places where they knew
they could get a cup of tea or perhaps something stronger. Tales
are told of one constable who made it a point of honour when on
nights to visit every one of the four breweries in the city. The
carelessness of another resulted in his helmet sailing across a
vat of fermenting beer like a galleon in full sale!
In Canterbury, the early records show that those dismissed or otherwise
punished had committed the usual type of misdemeanours for the time:
drunk/asleep on duty, leaving the beat, neglect of duty. Most cases
were dealt with by way of reprimand with the added threat of dismissal
for a subsequent offence. The number of dismissals in the early
days of the Canterbury force is indicative of the calibre of recruits,
their lack of training and the public opposition to their existence.
Of the 104 men who left the force in the period between 1836 and
1888, one third were dismissed. Of the 18 men who comprised the
Canterbury City force on its formation, six were dismissed within
3½ years, two dismissed after 10 years, one died, four resigned
and only five served beyond 23 years.
A serious case of neglect of duty occurred in 1857 when the Canterbury
Police were informed that a man had threatened to murder a woman
with a pistol. The man was identified and interrogated by the police
but denied being in possession of a pistol. The officers neglected
to search him (!) and let him go. The man promptly went to find
his sweetheart whom he shot as promised. On conviction by the magistrates,
the court suspended Inspector Parker for six months and Constable
Elvey for one month.
The early policemen were - and still are to a certain extent - expected
to be like Caesar's wife and beyond reproach. A classic example
of this may be found in the case involving two Canterbury Constables,
Banks and Bennett who were dismissed from the force in September
1869 for 'misconduct'. They had previously been suspended from duty
and charged on a vague report by the Superintendent that they were
going to collect some stolen hops. The evidence before the Magistrates
mainly consisting of two Inspectors saying that the constables were
good friends and that of a witness who had to be arrested in order
to bring him before the court. A more biased court would be hard
to imagine and the two defendants had no opportunity to provide
an explanation. The case was referred to the Grand Jury which acquitted
the men for lack of evidence. The Watch Committee had, however,
dismissed the men in the meantime 'without prejudging the case',
and this action was surprisingly supported by the local press which
said: It is not necessary that a Constable should be actually
convicted of a crime before he can be deemed to have forfeited the
confidence reposed in him and to have merited expulsion from the
force he has disgraced
This was not the only doubtful decision made by the Canterbury
authorities. On his arrival to take charge of the force in 1881,
James McBean set about cleaning-up the town. He was particularly
strict on the many licensees who strongly objected. That there were
vested interests which supported them may be deduced from the fact
that, in one case, the Mayor, acting in his capacity as an ex officio
Justice of the Peace, dismissed a case brought before him, conveniently
overlooking the fact that the defendant, a local licensee, was supplied
by the brewery which the Mayor owned!
Bowing to pressure from licensees and other groups who were being
targeted by the police, the Watch Committee accused Superintendent
McBean of over-zealousness and instructed him to tone down his 'zero
tolerance' policy. As a result, discipline collapsed and police
drunkenness and the rumours of corruption were so strong that the
Watch Committee seriously considered amalgamating with the County
Constabulary.
Members of the force were warned they would be severely punished
if found engaged in conversation with female servants or other women.
This did not always deter them and Jesse Manuel who served in the
Canterbury City force from 1847 to 1885 told of once being disturbed
by the 'Missus' whilst being regaled by a kindly cook during the
early years of his service. He beat a hasty exit but, in doing so,
upset the dish and had to complete his tour of duty with a large
gravy stain on his otherwise spotless white trousers.
Constable Harry Culver of the Canterbury City force could never
get the hang of Daylight Saving Time and was disciplined for turning
up for duty an hour late, having failed to put his clock forward.
The next year he was determined not to be caught out, but turned
up two hours late, having adjusted his clock backwards instead of
forwards!
Rochester
Despite the perception one might have of Rochester in our own times,
it is clear that the city was not always a tranquil backwater. In
1873 Sergeant Broadbridge (who later became the chief constable
of the force) made a brave attempt to apprehend some armed burglars.
Whilst he was pursuing them, he was twice shot at, one bullet passing
though his helmet. Although they managed to escape, he got a good
look at the one who fired at him and the would-be murderer was arrested
in a neighbouring county.
By the end of the 19th century, bicycles were becoming popular and
the Rochester Watch Committee found it necessary to instruct the
Police to control the 'furious riding' of cyclists on Star Hill
and Strood Hill.
In October 1902, Broadbridge, who was now Chief Constable, died
in office having been in the force for more than 43 years. 25 of
them in charge of the force. The vacancy was filled by Alfred Arnold,
an Inspector in the Metropolitan Police. When Chief Constable Arnold
retired in 1931 due to ill health, he had been in the police service
for a total of 52 years - 24 with the Metropolitan Police and 28
in Rochester - which must be something of a record.
The next two Chief Constables moved on after a very short stay and
in 1937 the Watch Committee took a rather surprising decision. Despite
strong competition from experienced policemen, the Watch Committee
appointed on Lt. Cdr. Willis, MVO, OBE, CGM, RN from Gillingham.
Just why they chose a man with apparently no police experience is
not known although it is true that he went on to become Chief Constable
of Bedfordshire and ended up as one of His Majesty's Inspectors
of Constabulary.
Perhaps as a consolation prize, the local candidate, Inspector Horwood,
was made Chief Inspector and, in 1940 he was at long last appointed
Chief Constable. He was still in post in 1943 when the Force amalgamated
with the Kent County Constabulary.
Ramsgate
In 1920/21 there was violent opposition to the loading of coke onto
two German ships in Ramsgate harbour which developed into a series
of full-scale riots. Totally overwhelmed, the town had to ask for
50 men from the Metropolitan Police as well as reinforcements from
the Kent County Constabulary, Margate, Dover, Gravesend, Maidstone,
Rochester and Tunbridge Wells. Canterbury alone sent 10 constables
who stayed in the town for five days. The five members of the town's
Mounted Section were very much involved. One of these was dragged
off his mount by the mob and seriously manhandled but another officer
quickly jumped into the saddle and continued the fray. Several baton
charges were made to restore order. This was one of the most serious
public order situation in the 20th century.
Tunbridge Wells
When the new Kent County Constabulary was being formed, there was
a very real danger that Tunbridge Wells, not being subject to the
Municipal Corporations Act, would lose its police force to the new
county force. The Police Committee made strong representations to
the authorities and it remained independent.
In 1889 the town was incorporated and by the time the Second World
War had broken out, the force had grown to a total of 65 men and
one woman under a chief constable.
Folkestone Borough Police seems to have suffered more than
most from "dodgy" policemen.
In 1857, Superintendent Steer, the first recorded head of the Folkestone
Police, resigned after being accused of appropriating certain stolen
property. The next two Superintendents died in harness, one in his
early 50s and the other aged 39.
More recently, Alfred Beesley became the Chief Constable in 1923.
He was not a popular man or easy to get on with and there is evidence
of rancour between him and some of his men. This came to a head
in May 1941 when Sergeant Floydd reported to the Watch Committee
that the Chief Constable had committed certain irregularities involving
the unofficial use of police vehicles and using official petrol
for personal purposes as well as supplying petrol coupons to unauthorised
persons.
Although the charges were dismissed the Chief Constable was obviously
not content to let matter lie and promptly put the Sergeant on a
charge for allowing himself to be taken home in a police car and
for making false entries in a car's log book. Once again the Watch
Committee found that the allegations had not been proven.
A month later the Chief Constable was charged with being drunk on
his way to the Police Station but again found not guilty. This time
Beesley dismissed Sergeant Floydd for insubordination but the Watch
Committee refused to ratify the punishment.
Worse was to come, however, and in October 1942, a former Folkestone
policeman was convicted of numerous cases of theft and house-breaking.
At his trial, his wife asked loudly, 'What about the others?' and
alleged that a number of Folkestone policemen had been breaking
into shops and other property which had been evacuated by their
owners. It was alleged that they had in fact been committing thefts
since 1935.
This was the last straw and the Chief Constable's position had become
untenable and he decided to resign forthwith. After prolonged and
searching interrogation by his successor, five constables admitted
their involvement and were dismissed. A sergeant denied involvement
but was found unfit to remain in the force and asked to resign.
Insufficient evidence was found against the other officers said
to have been involved.
This affair brought the whole force into disrepute and even perfectly
innocent officers found the finger of suspicion pointed at them
by an unconvinced public. The amalgamation with the County Constabulary
shortly afterwards made it possible to bring in some outside men
and so raise the morale and reputation of the Folkestone force.
|
