1857 - 2007

Leamington Spa Priors Police formed with John Palmer as Chief Constable.

Metropolitan Police formed.

Stratford Borough Police formed with Thomas Taylor as Chief Constable.

Warwick Borough Police formed.

The Magistrates in the Barlichway Hundred decided to form their own police force along similar lines to the Knightlow Hundred force. James Issac was appointed Chief Officer and took charge of both forces.

County and Borough Police Act passed County policing made compulsory.

Knightlow and Barlichway forces combine to become Warwickshire Constabulary. James Issac was appointed Chief Constable.

Specialist department the Criminal lnvestigation Department was formed.

By 1860 station houses and lock-ups had been provided at divisional headquarters. Constables and sergeants paid upto £6 per year and the higher ranks £8 per year.

A force of 50 constables sent to assist in Birmingham during disturbances. Officers to be issued with revolvers and cutlasses during ‘the present disturbed state of the County’.

Pay of constables shown as being £50 per annum.

Helmets were introduced.

1 policeman for every 1,128

25 Constables travelled from Leicestershire and Staffordshire to assist in crowd control in Birmingham for the visit of the Prince of Wales.

First woman employed by the Constabulary, Mrs Loach, for searching female prisoners. R.H. Kinchant took over as Chief Constable. Cutlasses withdrawn from general use.

Capt J.T. Brinkley was appointed Chief Constable

First Police Cadet and Civilian typist employed. Commander E.K.H. Kemble R.N. appointed Chief Constable.

Traffic Department, consisting of 5 Hillman HP and 4 Hillman Aero minx motor cars. The cost was £2,020.10s, plus a further £200 for specialist equipment.

Civil Defence Department formed.

Private telephone system installed.

First Police Woman employed.

Leamington Spa Borough Police merge with the County Force.

Lt.Col.G.C. White appointed as Chief Constable.

Headquarters moved to Leek Wootton.

Radios brought into use.

Dog section formed.

100 years Anniversary of the Warwickshire Constabulary. Strength - 558.

Peter Ewan Brodie appointed Chief Constable.

Richard Bonnar Matthews appointed Chief Constable

‘Breathalyser devices’ were introduced nationwide. ‘Pandas’. were first introduced. Warwickshire’s first female traffic officer, branded by the press of the time as ‘The Petticoat Patrol’.

Coventry City Police merged with the County Force. Now known as Warwickshire and Coventry Constabulary.

PC Peter Charles Guthrie murdered in Coventry. His murderer was arrested and convicted.

Coventry, Sutton Coldfield and Solihull Divisions merged with West Midlands Police.

One of Warwickshire Constabulary’s most challenging ‘major incidents’- the Nuneaton Rail Crash.

Albert Lauhhorne appointed Chief Constable.

Roger Birch appointed Chief Constable.

The year of another logistical challenge when Pope John Paul II engaged in a ‘Papal Visit’ and a ten square mile restricted traffic zone was imposed around Baginton Airport near Coventry

Peter D Joslin appointed Chief Constable. SPC Davinder Mankoo - 1st Asian Special.

Resources were stretched to the limit when four coal pits in the north of the county were targeted by ‘flying pickets’; in the NUM dispute.

The force received it’s first ‘Air Support’ cover. In 1989 the force went a step further by purchasing it’s own Sweitzer helicopter.

The beat bobby was armed with a new form of defence – the PR24 side-handled baton.

Andrew C Timpson appointed Chief Constable.

John Burbeck appointed Chief Constable.

‘Warwickshire Constabulary’ became known as ‘Warwickshire Police’.

Keith Bristow appointed Chief Constable. The 175th anniversary of the Special Constabulary nationally.

Warwickshire Police celebrated the start of its 150th Anniversary year on 5th February.