Police

From Chester Wiki

[edit] History

The first police station in Chester was the Exchange, which was where the commissioners met empowered by an act of 1872, amongst other things to employ and pay watchmen. This building was in the vicinity of the site of the present Town Hall. They also had some constables elected by parishes and wards having been formally appointed by the City Court of Quarter Sessions. In 1839 there was a Mr. Haswell as the superintendent in charge of the watch and a Mr. Hill as the Superintendent in charge of the police. The force at that time consisting of, three Constables of The Rows (probably part time) and fifty ward constables, probably, annual vestry or parish constables. Mr. John Hill from being head constable of Chester in 1836 when he appeared to give evidence to a government commission enquiring into the police rose to the chief constable of Chester by 1864, so he became the first to hold the position, which he did until 1864.

By 1844 the strength of the force had become, as seen in a watch committee report one superintendent, two sergeants and sixteen constables. So judging by the numbers it is evident that the force had moved to a fully paid footing by this time.

[edit] Links

• Cheshire Police - the official website
• A history and very detailed description of the Police Station at the Town Hall.
• Burglar Alarm Systems