Leamington celebrates two centuries of policing history

Last weekend, a celebratory reception was held at the Leamington Polish Centre to celebrate 200 years of policing in Royal Leamington Spa.

Over 50 Warwickshire Police staff, officers, local dignitaries and retired friends of the force came together at the Grade II listed building on Sunday 17 August, along with invited members of the Leamington community. Those attending heard an account of the history of the building, and milestones in the policing history of Leamington Spa, from Warwickshire Constabulary History Society members Terry Gardner and Richard Woodcock. 

The Leamington Borough Police HQ was housed in what is now the Polish Centre on the High Street from 1825 to 1947, and until 1968 was the original Leamington Police Station, which moved to Hamilton Terrace before being incorporated within the Warwickshire Criminal Justice Centre in Newbold Terrace. Following the merge of the Borough Police with Warwickshire Constabulary, our HQ was established at Woodcote House, Leek Wootton in 1947 and Warwickshire Constabulary officially became Warwickshire Police in 2001.

Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith, who took on the role in 2024, spoke about more modern times and our current vision as a force, before presenting a blue plaque to Stas Librowski, Chairman of the Polish Centre, to commemorate the building’s links with policing history in Leamington Spa.

Richard Woodcock, Force Historian and Warwickshire Constabulary History Society Chairman/Archivist, said, “It was a fantastic community event, befitting of the historic importance of the occasion. I would like to thank the Polish Centre for generously allowing us to share their magnificent building for the day.”

Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith commented, “Thank you to Richard and Terry for organising this event, and more, to celebrate this special occasion in our county’s policing history.”

Anyone wishing to learn more about the events and initiatives that are taking place to commemorate the bicentennial can find details of the exhibition running in the Leamington Pump Rooms Art Gallery & Museum here, along with an exhibition in Tithe Place, Southam. The History Society has also produced a limited-edition enamel pin badge to commemorate this year’s 200th anniversary, which are available to purchase for £5.

For more information on any of these events, visit our website. To learn more about the history of Warwickshire Police, or to purchase a commemorative pin badge, please contact Richard Woodcock, Force Historian and Warwickshire Constabulary History Society Chairman/Archivist.

Issued: JB, Corporate Communications