Notable Events In Week Fortyfour

Hertfordshire Police Historical Society

This Week In History

CROWN COURT JUDGE’S COMMENDATION – General Order 43 of 1999

Commended at St Albans Crown Court by His Honour Judge Colston:
A Sergeant from Dacorum Division For tenacity and dedication to duty in the investigation of a difficult injury road traffic accident which, as a result of the officer’s dogged persistence, an offender was convicted of perverting the course of justice, receiving a lengthy custodial sentence.
A Constable from Dacorum Division For integrity, whilst in the infancy of her Probation, in giving initial information leading to the conviction and imprisonment of a man for perverting the course of justice.

28/10/1977

At 07:00 hours on Friday, 28 October 1977, on the A405T at Hunton Bridge roundabout, the driver of a Leyland articulated petrol tanker lost control of the vehicle which turned over. The driver, escaped with minor injuries, but 5000 gallons of petrol were discharged onto the road and surrounding area. Due to the high explosion risk, widespread traffic diversions were put into immediate effect the whole of the roundabout was sealed off. Most of the petrol, ran along gutters and then via storm drains into the River Gade where it was dealt with by Thames water authority. The recovery and removal of the tanker however took more than seven hours, during which time severe traffic congestion was experienced on most of the main roads in the area.

31/10/1977

Chief Constable Raymond Naylor Buxton Esq., O.B.E., B.E.M.,Q.P.M., retires as Chief Constable having been in charge of the Force since 1/9/1969.

November 1880

Report of the lock-up committee : — Lock-up at Ware. The clerk of the peace has reported the completion of the purchase of land for the site. The county surveyor has submitted ground plans for a lock-up, and the magistrates of the Ware petty sessional division have signified their approval of the plans.
Lock-up at Buntingford. The clerk of the peace has reported the completion of the purchase and has produced the conveyance of the house authorized to be bought for conversion into a police station. The county surveyor has submitted plans, showing the alterations necessary, and the committee recommend that they be authorized to procure the requisite government approval of the plans to obtain estimates and to enter into a contract for the execution of the alterations at a cost not exceeding £100.
Lock-up at Great Berkhamstead. The clerk of the peace has reported the completion of the purchase of the freehold site adjoining the police station and the committee propose to report on a future occasion as to the mode in which the property may be made an efficient station and lock-up.

1/11/1978

On 1 November 1978, the Constabulary working week was changed from 42 hours to 40 hours.

2/11/1959

The M1 motorway was officially opened apart from the 2 1/2 miles from Bricket Wood to Aldenham, which was opened on 21st December. The flow of traffic almost immediately exceeded 14,000 vehicles a day. A survey in 1961 showed that the M1 and A1 in Hertfordshire were both 17 miles in length. A comparison of the accident statistics for the roads revealed 6 fatalities and 92 persons injured on the M1 compared to 13 killed and 261 injured on the A1.

3/11/1999 NAFIS

The roll out to the Police Forces of England and Wales is well under way for the implementation of the National Automated Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS). By the end of this year, 20 Forces will have been provided with the system. This £120m project will have a major impact on the business, operations and procedures employed by the Police Service – from the electronic capture of fingerprints in custody suites, the identification of Scenes of Crime marks and its use as an intelligence tool, to the preparation of evidence and the supply of local and national management information. All forty-three Forces in England and Wales will be NAFIS stakeholders by April 2001. Connected in real time to PNC Phoenix, the system will provide Forces with the opportunity to revisit and review their current business processes and to enhance their whole identification procedures with both the proactive and reactive environments. (General Order 44 of 1999)

22nd October 1908 The Scotsman

POLICE BLOODHOUNDS , At the annual Standing Committee meeting of the Hertfordshire police , on the proposal of Colonel Daniel , Chief Constable , it was decided -to retain the services of Major Richardson ‘ s police bloodhounds , should occasion arise . Major Richardson is receiving intimation that other counties are likely to follow suit. This is the first official adoption of police dogs in this country, although they have been for long in use in foreign countries. It was also Major Richardson who introduced the ambulance dogs with which the various Volunteer Medical Staff Corps are supplied