Policing Public Transport: A Neglected History

  The constrained jurisdiction of railway, dock and canal (RDC) police has always been a problem.   It still is.    A particularly difficult example can be found in the experience of Pc Wilfred LUCAS of the Midland Railway Police, Nottingham. One night in late Spring 1903 Pc LUCAS was on duty at the station when he was approached by a member of the public telling him that nearby a woman was calling for help saying that she had been assaulted by her husband and that he had threatened to murder her and their children.   At first he, correctly, pointed out that this was a matter for the City Police and that he had no jurisdiction.   Bystanders pleaded with him, fearful for the life of the victim.   He therefore made his way the short distance to the address in question.   As he was alone two railway staff came to assist.   On his arrival the officer spoke to witnesses and gained access to the house via a window where he arrested the suspect, a...

  Police Misconduct has been a problem since the very beginning of policing.   One particular type – that of making false claims – has persisted for generations.   Most supervisory officers will have had cause to look carefully at timesheets and to doubt the honesty of some claims of sickness.   To lend proper support to officers without giving licence to the dishonest and the idle is one of the challenges of police management. In 1903 Pc William PARK of the Lancs and Yorks Railway police (based at Liverpool Exchange) claimed that he had injured himself when inspecting premises on his beat.   He sustained a serious injury and cuts to his hand.   He was able to claim on the insurance fund and received half pay.   Over a period of several months he received a total of £7.    Unfortunately for him the company discovered (by what means we do not know) that he was lying about the cause of his injuries.   Evidence was obtained that he had in...

  I have, at long last, returned to my project of searching early editions of Police Review & Parade Gossip for items relating to the Rail, Dock and Canal (RDC) Policing.   I have run into a couple of years where the index (which was compiled at the end of end calendar year) is missing which means I have had no choice but to go through every page of every edition.   Police Review was a weekly publication that described itself as ‘The Organ of the British Constabulary’.   It provides a valuable insight into the issues that concerned police officers and the public. So, what were the big questions of the early Edwardian period?   Well, questions of law make a frequent appearance together with operational demands.   The delay to the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902 (he was ill) led to a lot of operational angst.   Even today mutual aid brings challenges but imagine what it was like when there were 243 forces (i) covering England, Scotland and Wales. ...