There was much civil unrest due to poor pay and working conditions, and often the only option to quell riots was to bring in the Army, at the cost of civilian lives. Home Secretary Robert Peel’s solution was the peelers British police force.
The paid, professional police force would be recruited from ordinary men (not the upper classes) and be impartial and fair. They would police by consent, rather than military force, and only use force where absolutely necessary.
The Birmingham Police were created in November 1839 following Chartist Riots. They replaced the previous system of street keepers and night watchmen.
An important part of showing that the police were the public and the public were the police, was the uniform. This was distinctly non-military, with a top hat instead of a helmet, so they looked more like gentlemen. They were issued with blue coats and trousers (white trousers in the summer), stocks and capes. They carried a rattle, handcuffs, truncheon, warrant card, a cutlass and a lamp by night. Their unique collar number was displayed on a high collar on the coat – this ensured accountability and legitimacy, with any officer being identifiable for reporting to his superiors.
The first Lock-up matron was employed in 1895 to look after the female prisoners and take care of prisoner welfare needs.
These were the first women in the Birmingham Police with operational responsibility, walking the same landings that we now walk at the museum. The uniform was originally a simple black dress, with a white collar and cuffs. Later years saw a white pinafore over the dress.
The matrons would often spend time talking to the women, who sometimes desperately needed a kind word and a listening ear.
When Chief Constable Charles Haughton Rafter received approval to recruit two female officers in 1917, he chose two of the Lock-up Matrons for this important role.
Evelyn Miles and Rebecca Lipscombe were 54 and 63 years of age respectively. By 1918 Rebecca had come back to work at the Lock-up, but Evelyn continued a career that saw her become the force’s first female sergeant and oldest serving female officer, at 77 years of age by the time she retired.
Whilst all the auxiliary roles were important, and ensured policing continued during the war, the police messenger role is one that is often overlooked. It is hard to imagine the bravery required of a police messenger: how a boy of 16 with nothing but a tin helmet and a push bike, was expected to cycle around and take messages to officers on the ground or between stations or emergency services during air raids; with no street lighting as the black-out was in place, bombs dropping around him, people screaming, fires all over the places, telephone poles and other street furniture blown apart and causing hazards, to give but a brief description of the worst of their shifts.
In 1941 the first messengers were recruited. Officially called the Police Auxiliary Messenger Service, following completion of their training they would be attached to different stations and employed on communications. Around 12 full-time PAMS were recruited and 100s of voluntary messengers. They looked like miniature police officers – in white shirt and black tie, black trousers and tunic and a flat cap. They had a distinctive messenger shoulder flash.
The boys did basic admin work, manned the front desk to support station staff and of course transported messages between different stations and other locations, sometimes during air raids or the immediate aftermath, when military personnel required assistance locating addresses.
Up until the mid-1800’s, the traffic in Birmingham consisted of horses and horse drawn vehicles which travelled at more or less the same speed, making things easily controllable. Runaway horses and carts and absent-minded pedestrians were the only cause of deaths on the roads.
The combination of fast-growing industry and new housing and the ever-growing different types of vehicles traveling at different speeds, put an enormous amount of stress on an already chaotic traffic system in the 1900’s
The solution was to station police officers in white gloves and white armlets at key points to control the traffic. This was known as point duty. There were many complaints from the public saying that they couldn’t see the policeman on duty so the force introduced waterproof, long bright white coats, capes, and shorter, more lightweight white jackets for the summer.
White helmets with the standard badge and rose fitting on the top were introduced later. This made them much more visible and the white coats could be seen from 60-80 yards away. Not a very practical colour for wearing on the polluted streets, but very effective in being seen. Police officers continued to wear white armlets after the white tunics were phased out.
As early as November 1839, police orders indicate the men of the Birmingham Police were to be fitted for capes.
It was made of a thick, felted woollen material and protected officers from the worst of the winter weather when out on patrol. Usually made of Melton cloth, it was fastened at the neck using a hook and chain, adorned with a pair of lion’s heads. The chain was made of a soft metal alloy, so that in an emergency it could be broken, thus preventing the officer from becoming entangled.
For many years it could be worn in addition to, or in place of, the great coat.
It was very popular with officers. It was warm and flexible and many a tale has been told about hiding food and other items under the long, thick lengths of material.
Policewomen also wore capes from the 1950s. These were very similar to the men’s, but with the buttons and hook on the opposite side and with slits for the arms to go through.
Cape
Great Coat
Seven constables were formed into an initial horse patrol in 1840. In later years, the force would hire horses as and when they needed them, and there were always ex-military cavalrymen available to ride them for ceremonial duties, royal escorts and the like.
In 1923, after a few years negotiating ownership of horses with the Birmingham Corporation, Chief Constable Charles Haughton Rafter formed the Birmingham City Police Mounted Branch.
Over the next 76 years, the branch grew from strength to strength, playing a key part in the policing of football matches, protests, disorder and community events. They were a common sight at the various football clubs around the West Midlands, and often went to shows and fairs around the country to perform their famous musical dances.
In 1999 due to escalating costs, budget cuts and a decline in football violence across the country, the West Midlands Police mounted unit was disbanded.
During the 1960s, Birmingham City Police recruited its first Black officer (Ralph Ramadhar) and its first Asian officer (Tariq Somra). This was the start of a more diverse police force.
During the 1970s, the Home Office was also considering how turban wearing Sikhs could be a part of emergency services that traditionally wore helmets. In the West Midlands our first officers to wear turbans were special constables Mohan Singh and Pervinder Singh Chodha in 1975.
The turban at the time was a choice of black or blue with West Midlands Police overwhelmingly selecting black. The style has not changed and is all preference. A West Midlands Police cap badge would be slotted onto the front of the turban and removed when the officer is not on duty.
Eventually officers were given the option to choose whether or not they wear the badge. The reason behind the badge becoming optional is that the turban belongs to the Sikhs and is their crown. The badge depicts the crown (sovereign) and so some people consider the turban is being incorrectly labelled as being that of the establishment.
They started being posted out onto division rather than just being based in the dedicated Police Women’s Department. Women could now remain with the police after getting married, although in line with wider society, most women still left employment once married or pregnant. It wasn’t until the early 1990s that it started to become common for policewomen to return to work after maternity leave.
It wasn’t until the 1975 Sex Discrimination Act that women were no longer prevented from taking up specialist roles like dog handler and mounted officer.
Policewomen wore a pleated skirt, white shirts and fitted tunic. Throughout the 1960s to 1990s they went through a variety of different styles of hat including hostess and pill box, before finally bowler hats were issued in the late 1980s.
By the 1980s women were able to wear NATO jumpers or cardigans which were more comfortable and practical, but continued to wear tunics for court and other occasions. After a brief, failed, trial of culottes during the 1990s, by the early 2000s women were no longer issued with skirts and had completely switched over to trousers.
Female officers were issued with a handbag and a small truncheon, which was often the subject of ridicule.
Before it was introduced in West Midlands Police, many officers were already starting to fear for their own safety and had invested in their own body armour. Sometimes covert options that went under their shirt, to give them peace of mind.
When the force issued body armour to all uniformed officers, whilst there may have been a few different sizes, generally it was a ‘one-size fits all’ approach to body type, which of course it doesn’t. This didn’t consider different sizes and body shapes particularly for female officers and could be incredibly uncomfortable.
It wasn’t until the tragic death of DC Mick Swindells in 2004 that the decision was made to extend the roll-out of body armour to non-uniformed roles.
Women were not allowed to do public order training until the late 1980s. During the miners’ strikes of 1984-1985, women pretty much ran the police stations across the West Midlands on 12 hour shifts, whilst male officers went on mutual aid to support the local forces.
The Operational Support Unit is the force’s strategic reserve for major and serious incidents. They include advanced public order trained officers, specialist search officers and officers trained in safe entry to buildings. They also carry out underwater searching, recovery of victims, working at heights and chemical/biological incidents.
The first woman ever posted to the OSU in the West Midlands was PC Kerry Delaney in 1990 – in a department of 140 men!
Public order uniform includes a one-piece jumpsuit, that goes under the uniform shirt and trousers, followed by stab vest and utility belt.
Policing 50 years ago looked very different to how it does today. Officers wore smart tunics, light blue shirts and highly polished shoes.
Female officers wore skirts, white shirts and carried a police issue handbag. The only protection officers had out on the streets was a truncheon and a radio.
Nowadays, visibility is very important. We want officers on the street to be seen, to reassure and to comfort. But not only that, they carry so many things for their own personal protection. Body armour has improved and is now made to measure, to ensure as much comfort as possible and the best protection. They have personal issue handcuffs, PAVA spray, taser, a baton and a body cam.
Whilst no one can argue that an officer in a smart tunic looks impressive, and makes an impression, it is a sad fact that officers today need more protection for the types of jobs they attend and when they get attacked. From day to day stab vests and protective sprays, to public order kit, NATO helmets and shields. Officer safety is paramount, so they can do their very important job, and still go home to their family.
