Notable Events In Week Ten

Ian Curley

Hertfordshire Police Historical Society

This Week In History

5th March 1847

Hertford Mercury 13/3/1847
Murderous outrage on a Police Constable On Friday night, the 5th inst., a most brutal attack was made upon Police Constable Broom, stationed in the town of Hitchin. It appears that on Saturday morning, about 7:30 o’clock, a constable was found by a person who lived in the same house, lying in the room totally insensible, and covered with blood. Mr Shillitoe and Mr Foster, surgeons, were immediately called in, and upon examination found that the skull of the poor fellow was severely fractured, and that he had sustained other fearful injuries. The most prompt measures were adopted for the relief of the sufferer, who still lives in a very precarious state. Strong hopes are, however, entertained that he will ultimately recover. It is believed that the assault was committed by some sheep stealers, who were encountered by the constable near Mr Wilshere’s Lodge, where an effusion of blood, and the traces of a struggle were discovered on the following morning. On Wednesday, Superintendent Wakenell, Inspector Wright, and Constables Carter and Pangbourne apprehended as three men named John Crawley, Joseph Crawley, residing in Hitchin, and William Erle of Ickleford, on suspicion of having committed the outrage. The evidence against them relative to the act of stealing a sheep, the property of Mr Smoothy , of Wellbury farm, is very strong. The affair has caused a great sensation in the town, the inhabitants of which is generally highly respect the constable, who has always performed his duties with much forbearance. Since the above was written, the injured man has been enabled, during a temporary return of sensibility, to give some information, and we believe has stated that he was struck with a hedge stake by a person whom he has named.

6/3/1926

Great coats are provided for the purpose of affording extra warmth during cold weather; capes will not be worn for that purpose. Capes will as a rule only be worn when it is wet or when cycling. Members of the force are permitted to wear great coats at their discretion but during the months October to April will be required to wear great coats when parading for duty. If the weather does not necessitate the wearing of a greatcoat whilst on duty, the garment may be left at the police station until required or until parading to report off duty, whichever is the shorter period. In order to equalise the wear of the front of the greatcoat, they will be buttoned on the right or left side, week by week alternately commencing on Sunday in each week. This order will be retrospective as from first of January and for the week commencing 7 March, great coats will be buttoned on the right side.

9/3/1940

Saturday, 9 March 1940, Special Constable 260 William Sharman, stationed at Hemel Hempstead, was in Queens Road, Watford, when he saw a man come out of a tobacconists shop, carrying a box under his arm. This man, when stopped by the proprietor of the shop, dropped the box and ran away. The special constable immediately mounted his cycle and followed the man, and after a chase which lasted some time he succeeded in capturing him. At Watford Petty Sessions, on 14 March 1940, the thief William Slater, was convicted and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. At the conclusion of the case the chairman, David Blakley, Esq, said to special constable Sharman, “you are new to the work, but you seem to have a flair for it, you were persistent and stuck it out and got your man. We feel it is up to us to say thank you”. The chief constable has much pleasure in endorsing the commendation and directs that the appropriate entry be made in the special constables’ record of service. (General orders number 51,1940)

10/3/1999

Access to the Internet for Web Browsing, Internet e-mail and X400 e-mail, from desktop computers connected to the Force network, is now available. A security policy covering these facilities was approved by Force Policy Group on Wednesday 27 January 1999 and now forms part of Force Standing Orders. (See HertsNet Standing Orders web site document number FP50008.) The security policy, which should be read in full by applicants and those supporting applications, describes the processes which must be followed in order to gain access to the various facilities. Individuals are required to complete a form(s) which can be accessed and printed from the Comms. & IT HertsNet web site. Access will only be given to staff who can demonstrate an important and relevant business need and who have obtained the relevant authorisation as described within the policy.

This page was added on 06/03/2020.

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