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Policemen on the streets in London in the early 1900s

Policemen on the beat

A common street scene from the early 1900s: a policeman on the beat.

A street scene from the early 1900s: a policeman on the beat.

Policemen, known as 'bobbies', were common sights on the streets in the early 1900s because they 'walked the beat'.

The beat

Iris and Mark Bailey report that the 'beat'  consisted of a section of local streets. Each constable was allocated his own beat which he was required to patrol on a regular timed sequence. The duty Police Sergeant would then meet up with him from time to time, to check that the he was doing his duty.

They walked alone rather than in pairs and were well-known in the local community. They knew the families and the families knew and trusted them.

Even when I was a child, much later in the 1940s, if I was travelling with my mother and we were uncertain of directions, there was always a policeman to ask.

Policeman blowing his police whistle to bring assistance from nearby policemen, mid-1900s

Policeman blowing his whistle to bring assistance from nearby policemen. Screen shot from an old film.

At that time of course the policeman on the beat had no radio but if an emergency arose and they needed help from other policemen, all they had to do was to blow their whistles.

    

Police whistles

According to Steve Sleap, police whistles were twin-toned, like two whistles in one - which was what gave them their distinctive sound. It was illegal for the public to own them. (Before the police had whistles, the 'peelers', as they were called, would whack their truncheons on the pavement to summon back up.)

According to Iris and Mark Bailey police whistles had a particularly deep tone which was quite unlike any other kind of whistle. Although it was illegal for members of the public to them, similar whistles, albeit with a slightly different tone were available, and were acquired by more than one old lady just in case! (A sort of fore runner of the modern personal alarm).

That other policemen were near enough to hear the whistle bears witness to how many policeman there were on the streets!

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Policemen directing traffic

A London policeman directing horse-drawn traffic, early 1900s.

 A policeman directing horse-drawn traffic. Photo courtesy of Viv Nunn.

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Policemen's uniform

A policeman's helmet in the early 1900s

A close-up of a policeman's helmet from the early 1900s - a detail from the above photo,

A policeman's uniform in the early 1900s

Richard Smith, policeman from Surrey in the early 1900s. The photo, which is courtesy of Don Billing, shows his wife's grandfather.


  

  

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Special constables

The uniform of a special constable in World War One

Jim Clarke in the uniform of a special constable in Edmonton, about 1914. I had thought that it was his truncheon in his hand, as this is still in the wider family, but Iris and Mark Bailey have pointed out that it looks more like a rolled flag and that a truncheon was kept in a special pocket in the right leg of the uniform.

Somewhat surprisingly my mother did not include anything on policemen in her recollections from the early 1900s. This page is stimulated by a photograph from my father's family of his father (my grandfather), Jim Clarke, who was a special constable in the 1914-18 war. His regular job was in insurance, but presumably he became a special constable because so many regular policemen of fighting age were away fighting at the front.

special constable long-service medal, early 1900s

A special constable's long-service medal from the early 1900s. Photo courtesy of Iris and Mark Bailey. The medal was awarded to Philip Richer who served as a special constable in Edmonton around the same time as my grandfather.

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have further information or an old photo which illustrates this page, I would very much like to hear from you.

Pat Cryer, webmaster

 

 

heads side of a special constable's long-serving medal in World War One  tails side of a special constabl'se long-serving medal, in the first world war 

The two sides of a special constable long-service medal from the 1914-18 war: For faithful service in the Special Constabulary. In those days it was the custom (as with military medals) to have the name of the recipient engraved around the rim, and Philip Richer's name is engraved round this rim. The practice was discontinued in World War Two. Photo courtesy of Iris and Mark Bailey.

   

   

  

   

   

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This website Join me in the 1900s is a contribution to the social history of everyday life in early to mid 20th century Britain, seen through personal recollections and illustrations, with the emphasis on what it was like to live in those times. It is © Pat Cryer.

STREET SCENES

early 1900s

early & mid 1900s

mid 1900s

SEE ALSO

'SHOPS' in the top menu and 'travel' (under 'EVERYDAY LIFE' in the top menu


If you can add anything to this page or provide a photo, I would be pleased to hear from you.

Pat Cryer
webmaster