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

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Soham Police Force - 1848-1851

The survival of the labelled "Soham Police Force" Charge Book, (first entry, charge No 1 on 2nd May 1848), is evidence that a small local police force had been established in Soham by May 1848 and the entries in the charge book show that a local force operated until taken over by the new Cambridgeshire Constabulary in January 1852. Unfortunately no records have survived relating to the process of forming the Soham Force. It could have been set up by the Soham Vestry under the Lighting and Watching Acts 1830 and 1833, or it could have been set up by local Magistrates using the Parish Constables Act 1842.

Soham, with a population of over 4000, was the type of community which Parliament may have had in mind for the 1830/33 and 1842 permissive policing statutes. In March 1846 Soham Vestry offered financial incentives to its Parish Constables to improve their impact on public order. This suggest that they were addressing issues with the Parish Constables' capacity rather than capability. Soham Vestry minutes 25 March 1846 state,

"It was unanamously resolved that if at the end of the current year it shall appear to the satisfaction of the inhabitants assembled in vestry that decent and proper order has been kept in the public streets during the evenings generally but most particularly on Sunday evenings, that in such case five pounds shall be allowed to each of the constables but that no such allowance shall be made unless due order has been maintained. It was further unanamously agreed that either of the constables should be allowed the sum of two shillings and six pence in case of him being employed in the removal of gypsies who have encamped within the limits of the Parish and that a written order from any rate payer to act in such case shall be held to be a sufficient authority for the constables interference and subsequent payment and that such payments shall be made out of the surveyor's rates."

In the summer of 1846 a number of fires occurred in the town, believed to be the work of one or more arsonists. The largest of these destroyed 13 houses on the East Side of Hall Street (Cambridge Independent Press 11 July 1846 and Cambridge Chronicle 25 July 1846). Cornelius Harvey, a wealthy farmer, and his nephew, James Harvey, were tried for arson and acquitted at the Assizes. The prosecution was brought by the Suffolk Insurance Company based mainly on the fact that the seat of the fire was at James Harvey's business premises, which had been insured with them over the previous two years. At the time of this particular fire there were two paid watchmen on duty in the town, probably a short term measure introduced by the vestry after earlier fires.(Cambridge Chronicle 25 July 1846, p1.)

Six other young men were indicted and acquitted for another fire in Soham. Despite the employment of additional watchmen, there were further arson attacks in the Town in September 1846 and January and March 1847. Two other suspects were prosecuted, both acquitted for want of evidence. Soham was described in the press as "Incendiary Soham where the inhabitants were afraid to retire to their beds" (Cambridge Independent Press 24 April 1847 P4). The Weekly Chronicle 21 March 1847 p9 reported:

"Soham. There is no town in the kingdom that has suffered so much from the diabolical work of incendiarism as this unfortunate place. The upper part of the town has been nearly consumed by previous conflagrations and although paid watchmen have been on the alert night and day, fires have broke out in the very heart of the neighbourhood in which they were on duty."

Despite the ongoing fear of arson, the Cambridge Chronicle, (16 September 1848 page 2) was far more upbeat in its description of the town:

"This improving town has of late been making rapid strides, and it would appear endeavouring to keep pace, if not surpass, others of similar importance. In addition to a very convenient courthouse being recently erected, in which all the parish business is transacted, and the county courts held, a company has been formed for the purpose of lighting the town with gas. ....When these works shall have been completed with a well regulated police, which has very lately been established, Soham May boast of being classed with the best regulated towns in the county"

This suggests that it is likely that the formation of the Soham Police Force took place in 1848.

Another clue in the charge book relating to the formation of the Soham Police Force is that Robert Hornsby, first entry 22 May 1848, describes himself not as police constable but as "Police Officer", then, from 30 October 1848, Hornsby describes himself as "Superintendent of Police" rather than "Police Constable". The Superintending title suggests an appointment by the Justices under the Parish Constables Act 1842.

A retrospective description of the Soham Force was provided by "Veritas", a Soham resident, in a letter to the Editor bemoaning the County Magistrate's decision to introduce a rural constabulary in 1851 (Cambridge Independent Press Sat 11 January 1851 p3).

"Proposed County Force. Sir, the attention of the county being called by a notice from Mr Jenyns relative to the establishing a county police, it is now time for every rate payer to ask himself a few questions, as to where the expenses are to be obtained! Surely we are not all blind to the serious expense such an establishment must entail upon the county rate; and allow me to ask, for what benefit? Ask our Isle of Ely rate payers, and we shall at once be told the change to them has been "all worse" and no better! As for Mr Graham saying the present constables are inefficient; I say then, turn them off, and get better; surely if one man is incapable, others there are to be found efficient for duty. I would ask by whom were these inefficient constables appointed? Take for instance this parish, when the act for establishing the police force was first introduced. After a few months, the inspectors found the men appointed were not equal to their duties; although the large sum of £300 per annum was voted for three men! Well, what did the inspectors do? Turn them out and appoint fresh ones at a reduction of salaries. Even the newly appointed men did not prove satisfactory; consequently a sweeping discharge took place and only two were appointed, reducing the original amount to £170; thus in little more than two years effecting a saving of £130 per annum; and the returns of the County Gaol will at once show whether the newly appointed men have been active or negligent, they having ruffled a nest of the very worst. I trust the press generally will aid us in an attempt to stop any such proceeding as forcing of further expenses upon a county allready overburdened; the measure being fraught with disaffection, danger and disturbance. Soham Thursday Evening "Veritas"

The references to the actions being taken to manage the force by the "inspectors" suggests that the force was established under the Lighting and Watching Acts, a process which introduced elected inspectors to take ongoing control of the Force.

Finally, confirmation that the Soham Police Force had been established under the Lighting and Watching Acts can be found in an extraordinary story in the Cambridge Chronicle, Saturday 22 June 1850 p2

"SOHAM Cage Robbery, Novel Proceeding.
On Monday last, a felony having been committed in a house occupied by Mrs. Brown, East Fen Common in Soham, the policemen appointed under the general watching and lighting act, apprehended a person named Manning, and finding some or the stolen goods upon bis person, they placed him in the cage for safe custody, till they could take him before the magistrates. Robert Hornsby, the ex superintendent of police, and now special constable, thinking the prisoner was not so safe in the lock-up as he would be under his special care, and probably expecting a pleasant ride to Cambridge with him, at the expence of the county, took the prisoner out of the cage, and placed him under the care of one Robert Heagren, discarded policeman, at the Ship public house; but Manning, not liking tbe disagreeable odour of beer and tobacco, and sundry articles of grocery, made his escape, whilst Heagren was having a quiet nap. He was afterwards pursued by the special with his sleepy friend, and one or two assistants, but has not yet been captured. The Inspectors of police do not at all fancy the liberty taken by Hornsby, and intend placing some additional locks upon the cage, that the policemen appointed by them may not have trouble of detecting felonies and apprehending the offenders, and then have them taken out of their custody by a man sanctioned by only a few individuals, to harrass and annoy nine-tenths of the most influential inhabitants of the town. Correspondent."

Later that year is a further report

"The Police again.— At a special meeting called by the Inspectors on Thursday evening, a numerous and most respectable body of rate-payers attended at the Court House, to hear charges read by two ex-Inspectors against our present police. Robert Hornsby was called to attempt to prove a charge of gross neglect of duty, in their being at the White Hart, from 12 o’clock at night till 1 o'clock in the morning, drinking and smoking; but, upon the son of the present worthy landlord, Mr. B. Dennis, being called, he at once satisfied the Inspectors, and all present, that Hornsby’s statement was untrue. Hornsby’s witness was Robert Heagren, a discharged policeman under Hornsby's superintendence. Further particulars must be deferred until next week, as the meeting was not over when our letter was despatched. These frequent collisions between parties sworn to keep the peace are very unseemly".
(Cambridge Independent Press, 9 November 1850 p3).

So, it would appear that the Soham Force was established under the Lighting and Watching Acts and was overseen by Inspectors appointed by the vestry, while Robert Hornsby became a Superintending Constable under the control of the local justices, looking after the village cage and local parish constables. Clashes between the two upholders of the peace were inevitable.

Details of individual member of the Soham Police can be found in the Cast List