1892 Peterborough City

From an occasional series by the  Rev'd P. Sutton, describing a disturbance in Peterborough in 1892 that he unearthed when researching old police records at our Head Quarters at Hinchingbrooke.

On 4th July 1892 Major Rooper, the Chief Constable of Huntingdonshire, sent a superintendent, one sergeant and nine constables to aid the Peterborough Police in controlling the crowd at an election in the City. At dusk, lighted tar barrels were rolled across the market place to Narrow Street and police were posted with directions not to allow the barrels into Narrow Street. This they did, but the barrels became broken up in the struggle and the lighted staves were thrown at the police by the crowd, striking and burning them. The police were ordered to draw their truncheons to protect themselves. At 10.00 PM the Chief Constable arrived with assistance and the crowd were driven onto the Market Place, where the public were waiting to hear the declaration of the result. At midnight the police were again attacked. They charged and drove back the rioters.

At 1.00am the City became quiet and 'Our men went off duty'. They behaved very well and held their ground. PC Wilson and PC Storey went to the infirmary to have their heads dressed. PC Bozeat went to Huntingdon Hospital to have burnt grit removed from his eye. All the other men were more or less injured, many helmets were broken and clothing destroyed. The following bill was sent to the Peterborough Council: 'Messrs Reynolds for one serge jacket and pair of trousers £1 - 15 - 0; Mr Kenyons for four helmets £1 - 16 - 8; A Llewellyn's bill for medical attendance on PC Wilson £4 -16 - 6'.

This was the state of the Huntingdon bobbies when they limped back to their quiet villages. Superintendent Allen struck on the breast with a lighted tar barrel stave, had his trousers tarred. Sergeant Freestone severely struck on the head with lighted tar staves. His helmet was crushed in and he was in pain and dizzy for a fortnight. PC Wilson struck senseless to the ground, then hit and kicked. PC Ayres was struck a severe blow on the cheek, under the eye, with a tar barrel stave, but fortunately parried the blow with his arms, thus saving his eye. PC Clarke was struck severely on the mouth by a large wire bound tarred and lighted football, causing his lips and gums to bleed.

This information is from the records of the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. In those days the local policemen went through six pay grades starting at 22 shillings and nine pence per week rising to 30 shillings and 11 pence per week (No change there then! - Ed). Their modest pay was subject to fines for minor breaches of rules. On this occasion they more than earned their keep.

1903

Police Station, John Thomas Dillworth, constable Eye

1965

Being very parochial like most police forces of the day, (see Huntingdonshire) because of the amalgamation into Mid Anglia Constabulary, all Peterborough metal insignia was collected at the end of the last shift and destroyed in the local gas works furnace. As told to me by Ex PC Alan Swain who drove the van to the gas works.