City of Glasgow Police facts for kids
The City of Glasgow Police was the police force for Glasgow, Scotland. It started in 1800 and served the city until 1975. Back in the 1600s, Scottish cities used to have watchmen who guarded the streets at night. They also had unpaid citizen constables who helped keep order.
On June 30, 1800, the leaders of Glasgow asked the British Government to create a proper police force. This led to the Glasgow Police Act, which officially started the City of Glasgow Police. This force is often called the first modern city police force. Before this, the police in Glasgow also helped fight fires, called out the time, and cleaned the streets, much like older watchmen.
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How the Police Force Started
In 1779, some city leaders in Glasgow tried to set up a police force. They appointed James Buchanan as an Inspector and hired eight police officers. But this force didn't last long because they ran out of money in 1781.
In 1788, six city leaders suggested trying again. They wanted to create a police force and get a special law passed by Parliament. This law would let them collect money from householders to pay for the police.
These leaders had a very modern idea for their time. They wanted the police force to be run by a group of elected citizens called Commissioners. The officers would wear uniforms with numbers and the word 'Police' on them. Each officer also had to pay £50 as a guarantee of good behavior. This small force of eight officers would patrol all day and night to stop crime and catch offenders. This idea of "Preventive Policing" was thought of 40 years before Sir Robert Peel started similar policing in London in 1829. In February 1789, this new professional police force began its work.
For the next eleven years, Glasgow's leaders tried to get their "Police Bill" approved by Parliament, but it was difficult. The small police force struggled without enough money. In 1790, the force failed again, and the city had to rely on citizen guards. Finally, in the summer of 1800, the Glasgow Police Bill was discussed in Parliament. On June 30, 1800, the Glasgow Police Act became law.
The City of Glasgow Police Begins
On September 29, 1800, a city merchant named John Stenhouse was chosen as the Master of Police. He started organizing and hiring officers for the new force. He hired three sergeants and six police constables. They were divided into three groups, each with one sergeant and two constables.
On November 15, the Glasgow Police gathered for the first time. They worked in three shifts. One group was on duty at the Police Office for 24 hours. Another group was on patrol, and the third group rested for 24 hours. There were also 68 watchmen who wore long brown coats with numbers on their backs. They carried lanterns and long sticks. These watchmen stood at fixed spots in the city, while the police officers patrolled to prevent crime.
From these humble beginnings, the Glasgow Police began more than 200 years of service to the city.
The 19th Century Police
In 1819, Lieutenant Peter McKinlay became Glasgow's first Detective. This meant he was the first officer whose main job was to investigate crimes.
In 1846, the Glasgow Police joined with the police forces from nearby areas like Gorbals, Calton, and Anderston. After this, the Glasgow Police was divided into four main areas and had 360 officers.
New uniforms were given out in 1849. These included a better quality top hat and long coats with nine buttons.
In 1861, the police started using the electric telegraph to communicate between offices and with other police forces. In 1878, they introduced a horse-drawn van to transport prisoners.
Because of the City of Glasgow Act in 1891, the city's borders grew bigger. To help police these new areas, 14 cast iron Police Signal boxes were installed. By 1900, the City of Glasgow Police had 1355 officers.
The 20th Century Police
In 1904, the force appointed its first Chief Inspector of Detectives, and the first Detective Constables were hired. The old main police office closed, and a new one opened in Turnbull Street on March 23, 1906. This became the headquarters for the Glasgow Police.
On November 5, 1912, the city's borders were extended again by a new law. The force then merged with the police from Govan and Partick Burgh.
During the First World War, about 300 Glasgow police officers joined the army. Because of this, the force hired 400 temporary Constables. They also increased the number of Special Constabulary (volunteer police officers) to 3000. These volunteers helped guard important buildings and factories in the city. In 1915, the Chief Constable told policemen to stop joining the army because the force was becoming too small.
The police force also started talking about hiring policewomen. On September 6, Emily Miller became Glasgow's first policewoman. By the end of the war, 112 of the 748 Glasgow policemen who had joined the army had been killed.
In January 1919, many striking workers marched in Glasgow. On January 31, they gathered in George Square, and a riot broke out. This event is known as the 1919 Battle of George Square. The army was called in to help the police. By the next Monday, six tanks had arrived, though they were not used.
In 1931, cuts to government benefits led to marches by unemployed people and riots in Glasgow. Fifty-one men were arrested.
On December 1, 1931, a new Chief Constable named Percy J. Sillitoe was appointed. He quickly reorganized the force. Sillitoe introduced the famous black and white checkered cap bands, known as the 'Sillitoe tartan'. These bands were inspired by military hats and are now used by almost every police force in the United Kingdom and many others worldwide.
Glasgow's first radio patrol car system started in May 1936.
In 1939, when the Second World War began, the Glasgow Police prepared for air raids. Many police officers joined the armed forces. In 1942, Chief Constable Sillitoe was given a special honor (knighted) and left in 1943. In 1945, Jean Malloy became the first woman inspector of Police in Scotland.
In 1975, the City of Glasgow Police joined with several other police forces in the area to create Strathclyde Police.
Later, in 2013, all the regional police forces in Scotland merged to form a single national police force called Police Scotland.
Marine Police
The River Clyde Police started in 1858. Their job was to police the River Clyde. In 1866, they joined the Marine Police division of the City of Glasgow Police. These officers wore a small anchor on their collar to show they were part of the Marine Police.
Chief Constables
- 1800-1803 : John Stenhouse (Master of Police)
- 1803-1805 : Walter Graham
- 1805-1821 : James Mitchell
- 1821-1825 : James Hardie (Superintendent)
- 1825-1832 : John Graham
- 1832-1833 : F.G. Denovan
- 1833-1836 : John Watson
- 1836-1844 : Henry Miller
- 1844-1847 : Archibald Wilson
- 1847-1848 : William Henry Pearce (Chief Superintendent)
- 1848 : Henry Miller
- 1848-1870 : James Smart (Chief Constable)
- 1870-1888 : Alexander McCall
- 1888-1902 : John Boyd
- 1902-1922 : James V. Stevenson
- 1922-1931 : Andrew D. Smith
- 1931-1943 : Percy Sillitoe
- 1943 : David Warnock
- 1943-1960 : Malcolm McCulloch
- 1960-1971 : James A. Robertson
- 1971-1975 : David McNee
See also
- Police
- Police Scotland
- Strathclyde Police
- Marine Police Force, founded 1798
Images for kids
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David Kirkwood being held by Police during the Battle of George Square
