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Back in Time:
A History of Essex Police

 

How It All Began

Essex was one of the first counties to make use of the powers under the Police Act of 1839 and in 1840 the Essex County Constabulary came into being.

The first chief constable was Admiral John Bunch Bonnemaison McHardy, a retired naval officer who was to rule over the force for 41 years until his retirement at the age of 81.

Initially there were only 100 constables and 15 superintendents to police the county. The rank of inspector appeared later that year, but it was to be 1855 before the rank of sergeant was introduced.

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A number of Borough towns had their own police forces at this time, but, Harwich (1857), Saffron Walden (1857), Maldon (1889) and Colchester (1947) were gradually absorbed into the larger county force. In 1914 Southend formed its own police force before being amalgamated with Essex in 1969.

In the beginning a temporary office was found for McHardy in the gaol at Springfield, before more suitable accommodation was found at Old Court in Springfield, the disused depot of the West Essex Militia. In 1903 the current headquarters of the force was built at a cost of £19,000.

 

The War Years

In 1888 the first detectives were appointed and in 1901 fingerprint evidence was used for the first time in Essex. During the First World War many officers volunteered for the armed forces and 22 Essex and 8 Southend men were killed on active service. Because so many police officers had joined up 6000 Special Constables were appointed for duty within the county. During World War II thirty-one officers lost their lives on active service, together with two police officers who were killed when Headquarters was bombed. Again during this period, Essex relied on the services of the Special Constabulary and War Reserves.

 

Women Police

In 1946 the first women were appointed constables in Essex, although Colchester had appointed its first full time woman constable in 1925. During World War I the Women's Police Service was formed and worked full time with the police and in World War II, the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps was formed. The dog section was introduced in 1953 and in 1990 the force, by this time known as the Essex Police, had acquired a helicopter.

 

In Memoriam

During its history five police officers have been murdered on duty, the first in 1850 and the last in 1984. They and others who have lost their lives on duty are commemorated in a memorial book at headquarters in Chelmsford.

 

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