Cambridgeshire

Police

History

Notes

Soham Police - The Soham Police Charge Book, 1848-1855

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The New Rural Police

The New Cambridgeshire Constabulary

The decision to proceed with the formation of a new rural police force for the County of Cambridgeshire was taken by Magistrates in October 1851.

Magistrates received 35 applications for the post of Chief Constable, shortlisted five and appointed Captain George Davies RN, a candidate supported particularly by Mr Cotton and Rev Bennet. The appointment was sanctioned by the Secretary of State despite the fact that Davies was older that the maximum age for such an appointment. Davies was sworn in as Chief Constable on 3 December 1851.

The new Force was organised into seven Divisions based on the Petty Sessional Court areas. A Superintendent and Sergeant were recruited and appointed for each and an establishment of 55 Constables allocated across the Force. The Divisions of the Force were, according to the Cambridge Chronicle 10 January 1852:

* NB Cambridge Division did not include the Borough of Cambridge

Soham became part of the Newmarket Division, initially under Superintendent Brown, but shortly after under Superintendent John Marsen. The Newmarket Division covered Ashley cum Silverley, Borough Green, Brinkley, Burwell, Cheveley, Chippenham, Dullingham, Exning, Fordham, Isleham, Kennet, Kirtling, Landwade, Newmarket All Saints, Reach, Snailwell, Soham, Stetchworth, Wesley Waterless, Wicken, Woodditton and Saxon Street, total population in 1851, 21,357.

Initial training of most of the men took place during December 1851 and on 3 January 1852 the Magistrates inspected the Force outside the County Gaol. Thereafter men were allocated to their respective divisions.

Officers were provided with uniforms, which included frock coats, belts and buckles, peaked caps, and capes. Truncheons, lanterns and handcuffs were also provided. Each Division had leg irons and a horse and cart for the transportation of prisoners. Initially the force had no buildings. Captain Davies' house in Chesterton Road was his place of work. In the early years prisoners would be kept overnight in the stable at the Superintendents residence.

The Soham Police Charge Book records the first arrests by the new police in the Newmarket Division taking place on 6th January 1852. One of the first was the arrest of a former Soham police officer for obtaining money by false pretences. It does not appear that any of the former Soham police were recruited into the new force, with the exception of Robert Hornsby who became a Sergeant in the Caxton Division.

Newmarket Division was one of the first in the County to be supplied by the Magistrates with a police building. A station and magistrates court building was opened in All Saints Road in 1856.

Cambridgeshire Constabulary Newmarket Station House and Court (thanks to Pete Norman)

In 1857 Captain Davies was also appointed Chief Constable of the newly formed Huntingdonshire Constabulary