Notable Events In Week Fortytwo

Hertfordshire Police  Historical Society

This Week In History

16/10/1988

At 1 a.m. on 16 October 1988, a Special Constable and a Constable, were on patrol in the parade Watford. Both officers heard a gunshot and saw a man lying injured on the ground. The Special Constable ran in the direction where the shot had come from and his attention was alerted by the sound of a car engine. He saw a vehicle drive towards him with the passenger door open and noticed a man run alongside and get in. The officer called out to the driver to stop, which he failed to do and as the vehicle sped past him, the officer struck the windscreen and roof with his truncheon. The vehicle made off, but the officer was still able to note part of its registration number. The actions of the special Constable were courageous and without regard for its own safety. As a result of his fortitude, quick thinking, and keen observation, the man was later arrested. The Chief Constable awarded a commendation to the Constable for her actions in trying to prevent the vehicle getting the way, and a High Commendation to the Special Constable, the first time the higher award has ever been made to an officer from the Special Constabulary.

18/10/1926

General Order 140 of the 18th October 1926 declared that under the Emergency Regulations 1926 a detachment of the Hertford County Constabulary, consisting of an Inspector, three Sergeants and 36 Constables, was detailed for duty in the County of Derby as from 19th October 1926. Their orders were:
The detachment will proceed by nearest railway route to St Pancras, London Midland & Scottish Railway, reporting on the main departure platform at 2 p.m., when Inspector Digby will parade the party and call the roll. The detachment will proceed by the 2.25 p.m. train to Derby. On arrival at Derby, Inspector Digby will report to the representative of the Chief Constable of the Derby County Constabulary who will meet the train and provide omnibus transport to Ripley about 10 miles distant.
Dress: Greatcoats, cape, cloth jacket, 2nd cloth trousers, 1925 issue helmet, leggings, truncheons and handcuffs, woollen gloves, lamps, whistles and chains.
Divisional Superintendents will advance Railway fares if required and an account for same will be rendered to Headquarters Office for repayment. Inspector Digby will render a daily report direct to the Chief Constable’s Office each day, showing state of health of all members of the detachment and any matters of interest which may occur.

General Order 157 of the 14th November 1926 reported:
COAL STRIKE
The Chief Constable is gratified to learn that the services of the detachment of the Hertford County Constabulary added temporarily to the Derby County Constabulary, were satisfactory, and he has much pleasure in publishing the following extract from a letter received from the Chief Constable of Derbyshire, under date 11th November 1926:
Begins: “The detachment has done very good work and I will be grateful if you will be kind enough to convey to them my warm thanks for their services. I may say that Inspector Digby did very good work indeed and was of great assistance to my Ilkeston Superintendent. Will you also give him my personal thanks”. Ends.

If this letter from the Derbyshire Chief Constable seems a bit luke warm it transpires 10 of the Hertfordshire Constables suffered food poisoning after eating food which was supplied to them on behalf of the Derbyshire Police Authority. The Hertfordshire Force Surgeon said that their illness should be classed as an injury on duty and the Chief Constable agreed and said no one should suffer any stoppages from their pay.

19/10/1880

Indictment of Charles Stevens, Sarah Stevens, and Elizabeth Clair, charged with unlawfully uttering thirty counterfeit florins. Charles and Sarah Stevens were found guilty and sentenced—the former to 5 years’ penal servitude, and the latter to 6 months’ imprisonment with hard labour. Elizabeth Clair was acquitted.

20/10/1926

Discipline. Constable Arthur Claude Rogers 74 D division. Discreditable conduct: In that you being a constable of the Hertfordshire County Constabulary at Harpenden, entrusted with the care of a police station and the property therein, did convert to your only use one “new ideal” fountain pen and one “Onoto” pen nib, between 5 October and 15 October 1926, being property held in charge by the police authority. Pleaded: Not guilty. Finding: Guilty. Sentence-ordered to resign his appointment as a constable as an alternative to dismissal. (General order 141 of 1926)