London, Chatham and Dover Railway Police

A fascinating insight into the way our forebears were engaged has come from the a new article on The Dover Historian website.

The article, by Lorraine Sencicle, is one in a series documenting how the English ‘packet’ service out of Dover, that is ships carrying official messages and mail, evolved over the centuries. This article concentrates on the London, Chatham and Dover Railway Company’s venture between 1860 and 1874. It is entitled Packet Service V LCDR & the Route to Dover’s Prosperity.

Of particular interest to the BTPHG is the use of the railway company’s police on the ships, and the fight against the rise in crime affecting their passengers. It also documents a joint operation between the LCDR police, the South Eastern Railway Police, Dover Borough Police and the Metropolitan Police.

The Dover Historian website is a treasure trove for the history enthusiast, there is information on Dover, the port and the railways that served it.

 

? Webmaster’s Tip:
The article is a long one, so although it is worth reading in full, you can use your browser to do a word search for ‘police’ to get to the most relevant parts.

Opening of the Cardiff Story Museum and a Royal Meeting

The new Cardiff Story Museum was officially opened by HRH the Duchess of Cornwall on Tuesday 28th June 2011. I was fortunate enough to be invited to the opening, having arranged for a number of police related artefacts to be donated and having provided much information about the Bute Dock Police and their police station around 1900. As you can see I did not waste the opportunity to catch the Duchess’s ear!

One of the items on display was a Bute Dock Police cutlass, dating from the 1860s, donated to the museum by retired Chief Inspector and History Group member Roy Hulin. Many former officers will be aware that a large number of these cutlasses were either on display at the docks police station at Cardiff or held in store at Divisional Headquarters. But when the BT police were withdrawn from the docks in 1985, the cutlasses were regarded as unique souvenirs of a time long since gone – and many were spirited away. So it is particularly pleasing to have one on display at the museum- the Bute Dock Police certainly played their part in the Cardiff Story.

The Duchess took the time to have a thorough look at the many things on display, including the cutlass, and asked all the right questions. I had the opportunity to briefly mention the work of the BTP History Group and she seemed genuinely interested. I must say that I was impressed with her visit and after a few fine speeches and a delicious buffet-lunch; I was able to reflect on a rewarding day over a pint of Brain’s Black (which is another part of the Cardiff Story…)

Viv Head, Chairman BTPHG

Policing the Docks

In the last blog, about the Maritime Blue photo exhibition in June 2010, I referred to the fact that BTP were policing 24 ports nationwide at the time of withdrawal in 1985. Someone asked – where were they? A very good question, to which we have not yet properly got the complete answer. But it started a chain of thought about how many docks or ports had previously been policed by BTP or constituent forces? Well that has been doing the rounds and so far we are up to fifty-six different ports and docks!!! Surprising isn’t it?

The list appears in the history pages on this site and if you can add any further information, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Maritime Blue Photo Exhibition

2010 marks the 25th anniversary of the withdrawal of the BTP policing service from 24 ports nationwide which the force previously policed for anything up to 130 years. (A dedicated police service was in place at Cardiff Docks between 1858 and 1985.) To celebrate this event, a fascinating exhibition was held at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre in Cardiff throughout June, with more than fifty black and white photographs displayed.
There were very many visitors from all over the world and the photographs certainly created a great deal of interest. Many thanks to the organisations, including the British Transport Police Force, and individuals who supported this project.