Month: August 2023

Death of Nottinghamshire Officer

Very sadly, it was reported this week that Police Sergeant Graham Saville of Nottinghamshire Police died after being hit by a train as he attempted to save a distressed man on the tracks.

The incident happened in Balderton just before 7pm on Thursday 24 August.
Sergeant Saville was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, the 46-year-old died on Tuesday 29 August with his family at his bedside.

Chief Constable Kate Meynell said: “Today is a day of mourning for the entire police family.

“Graham was a hugely respected and popular colleague and his death in the line of duty has come as an enormous shock to us all.

“Our hearts and deepest condolences go out to his family and we will do everything we can to support them through this unimaginably devastating time. It is impossible to put into words how devastating this news is for everyone who loved and respected Graham.

“On Thursday, he went to work to protect the people of Nottinghamshire from harm, and it is testament to his bravery and dedication as a police officer that he was fatally injured while attempting to save another man’s life.

“His service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

The BTP History Group would like to add our condolences.

The ‘Non Railway Police Officers killed on duty on the railway’ table, which sits at the bottom of the Roll of Honour (Line of Duty) page, has been updated. Sadly this now totals 105.

 

Source: Nottinghamshire Police

British Museum theft

British Museum

Perhaps a slightly unusual topic for the BTP History Group to feature on our blog? But on hearing the news that CC Lucy D’Orsi will be conducting the review into security at the British Museum it seemed that this unique combination of BTP and history was worth stretching the remit for.

BBC News: British Museum worker sacked over missing items

British Museum Press Release:
Announcement regarding missing, stolen and damaged items

Photo Credit: British Museum / Creative Commons License 

Private Inquiries

The Secret History of Female Sleuths

A history of the UK’s real-life female detectives – from the mid-Victorian era to the present day.

Private Inquiries cover

In September last year author Caitlin Davies approached the History Group while researching Elizabeth Joyes, one of the female detectives who was to appear in her forthcoming book. Our Research Group were able to assist Caitlin in a small way, but this opened up a new aspect to policing that we had previously been unaware of.

Elizabeth is an interesting character. In 1855, she was employed by the City of London Police as a Searcher, whose job was to search female prisoners as they were brought into custody. However, she also worked undercover on the railways, catching thieves at first class waiting rooms in London at the  Eastern Counties Railway terminus at Shoreditch.

It seems she was directly employed by the railway, only involving the police when an arrest was necessary. This was about sixty years before the first official railway policewomen.

I’m now pleased to report that Caitlin’s book is about to be published by the History Press (12th October 2023).

It is available to pre-order here: Private Inquiries

More details are to be found on author’s website: Caitlin Davies