November2010 Edition - Hatfield Heath Village Magazine

Special Event?
Want to give a personal Gift?
A verse for any occasion.
Bev Rogers 07796 493 453
www.wordways.net
DOMESTIC SOLDIERS
General DIY, Curtain Rails and Shelves Erected, Flat Packs
assembled. Patio, Drive and Brickwork Pressure Washed,
Fencing and Sheds Preserved and Repaired, Hedge Cutting,
including Shrubs and Tree Pruning,
House Painting, Exterior & Interior, Windows Pipe Work and
Weather Boards Stained and Painted. Fencing Erected,
Gardens and Driveways Shingf.
Please do not hesitate to ask. Contact lan and Jan at
San Michelle, Jacks Lane, Takeley
MANY OTHER SERVICES UNDERTAKEN
01279 873 933
01279 870 968
COMPLETE SERVICE FOR YOUR HOME
Ian.mcreynolds@tesco.net
BLINDS
CONSERVATORY
HOUSE
PLEATED
PINOLEUM
ROLLER
ROMAN
COMMERCIAL
Phone now for a friendly chat
with Sue to get more information
Tel : 07885 510 400
State Registered Chiropodist
Home Visiting Practice
Mrs. Julie Golden S.R.Ch.
Est. 1994
01279 817 810
A professional service at a competitive rate
The following article has been researched and compiled
by Gordon Sinclair a former Essex Constabulary Officer
who served 30 years before retirement in the year 2000
and is now a Company Director of Security Systems
Group.
ESSEX POLICE HOW IT ALL BEGAN
Essex was one of the first Counties
to make use of the Powers under the
Police Act 1839 and in 1840 the
Essex Constabulary came into
being.
The first Chief Constable was
Admiral John Bunch Bonnemaison
McHardy, a retired naval officer
who was to rule over the force for
41 years to the age of 81 (yes 81
years of age)
Initially there were 100 Constables and 15
Superintendents to Police the entire County, the rank of
Inspector appeared
later that year, but it
was to be 1855
before the rank of
sergeant was
introduced.
A number of
Borough Towns had
their own Police
forces at this time,
but Harwich (1857),
Saffron Walden (1857), Maldon (1889) and Colchester
(1947) were gradually absorbed into the larger county
force. In 1947 Southend formed its own Police Force
before being amalgamated with Essex in 1969, this being
the year I joined the Essex and Southend on Sea Joint
Constabulary, a very long name given to the force and
one which often caused problems when a court
appearance was required and an Officers formal title had
to be read to the court: ‘Police Constable Gordon John
Sinclair Essex and Southend on Sea Joint Constabulary
stationed at Chelmsford your worships’ .
In the beginning a temporary office was found for
McHardy in the gaol at Springfield, before more suitable
accommodation was found at Old Court in Springfield,
the disused depot of The West Essex Militia. In 1903 the
current headquarters of the Force was built at a cost of
£19,000.
In 1888 the first Detectives were appointed and in 1901
fingerprint evidence was used for the first time in Essex.
During the First world War many Officers volunteered
for the armed forces a sad fact is 22 Essex men and 8
Southend men were killed on active service, because so
many Officers joined up 6000 Special Constables were
appointed for duty within the County and to this day The
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