Police History - International Police Association

1914

Introduction of Police Women

1914

Policing in the Great War 1914-1918

1919

Police Strike

1919

Canadian soldiers riot at Epsom police station and the death of Station Sergeant Green

1922

Desborough Royal Commission report – creation of the Police Federation

1922

Irish Free State form Irish Free State formed lead to the abolition of the Royal Irish Constabulary and the formation of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Garda Siochana in the Republic

1925

Introduction of police boxes

1926

General Strike

1930

Road Traffic Act gave police greater authority over the regulation of motor

1930

Police radio cars using morse code

1931

Women given full police powers

1932

Invention of the black/white checkered hat band by Captain Percy J. Sillitoe, Chief Constable Glasgow Police

1933

Departmental committee on Detective Work

1939

Policing in World War 2

1940

Some police officers back to military service, change of police role due to the War

1948

Creation of the Police Staff College

1948

Woman police accepted into the Police Federation

1950

Arthur Troop 1950 - including his membership card Arthur Troop, a police sergeant from Lincolnshire, founded the IPA in 1950 under the Esperanto motto Servo per Amikeco (Service Through Friendship). As the first Secretary General of the British Section, his dream was to create a channel for friendship and co-operation amongst police officers worldwide. With the help of early pioneers, he worked tirelessly to encourage other national sections to form. By 1955, there were sections in the majority of western Europe, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Australasia.

1951

Introduction of the Police Long Service medal

1956

British Police in Cyprus internal security patrol

1958

Joseph Simpson became first Metropolitan Police Commissioner who started as a Constable

1958

Introduction of motorways and policing – Preston by-pass later part of the M6

1959

First official motorway - M1 motorway policing

1962

first portable radios - GEC Lancons

1962

first TV Cops – “Z-Cars”

1962

Willink Royal commission and subsequent Police Act, 1964

1963

Great Train Robbery – subsequent trial led to changes in committal proceedings to the Crown Court

1964

Police Act – leading to the creation of bigger police forces by amalgamation, reducing the number of forces to 47

1964

Arthur Troop in 1964 - Blackpool conference In 1965, Arthur Troop was awarded the British Empire Medal for his work in founding the IPA. During his lifetime, Arthur received many high awards including an Honorary Doctorate from Canada; the Cross of Honour from the President of the Republic of Austria; and following the unveiling of the Arthur Troop statue on the great Plain of Hungary in 1998, he was presented with the ‘Golden Sword of Hungary’ by the State. In 1966, Arthur retired from the police but continued to be a part of the IPA. In May 2000, in spite of ill-health, Arthur prepared himself for the Association's 50th Anniversary and was congratulated for his work by HRH Princess Anne.

1964

Police Act Leading to the creation of bigger police forces by amalgamation, reducing the number of forces to 47

1967

Unit Beat Policing, Personal radios

1967

Police Helicopter Experiment

1968

male officer RUC - Northern Ireland armed and supported by armed soldiers – “The Troubles”

1968

Anti Vietnam demonstration – American Embassy, Grosvenor Square – high spot for public order policing

1974

Red Lion Square – National Front demo

1974

First Live use of Police National Computer

1975

Arthur Troop in 1975

1975

Sex Discrimination Act – ended police women departments

1976

Notting Hill Riots Changed the face of policing – use of dustbin lids lead to proper public order long protective shields

1977

Grunwick Strike – police controlling demonstrators for an industrial dispute

1979

Edmund Davies report

1980

Bristol Riots

1980

Iranian Embassy siege – PC Trevor Lock

1981

Inner City Riots – Toxteth, Brixton – lead to the NATO style helmets and flame-proof overalls

1981

arrest of Peter Sutcliffe (“Yorkshire Ripper”) and a move towards HOLMES system

1983

Policing by Objectives - Home Office Circular 114/83 -Efficiency and effectiveness in the Police Service

1984

Byford report on Yorkshire Ripper case – lead to changes in managing major crime

1984

Miners Strike – flying pickets – National Reporting Centre to co-ordinate mutual aid by police forces

1984

Police & Criminal Evidence Act – replaced “Judges Rules”

1984

Death of WPC Yvonne Fletcher – siege at Libyan People’s Bureau

1984

Miner's strike Flying pickets – National Reporting Centre to co-ordinate mutual aid by police forces

1984

Police & Criminal Evidence Act – replaced “Judges Rules”

1985

Prosecution of Offenders Act Formation of the Crown Prosecution Service – police no longer initiate prosecution in court

1985

Prosecution of Offenders Act – formation of the Crown Prosecution Service – police no longer initiate prosecution in court

1985

Broadwater Farm riot - death of PC Keith Blakelock

1986

First Police use of Analysis of DNA

1988

Lockerbie disaster– terrorism act

1990

IRA bombing campaign on main land

1993

first female RUC officers armed

1993

Sheehy Enquiry

1994

“Euro” policing of the Channel Tunnel

1995

first female Chief Constable appointed – Pauline Clare (Lancashire)

1995

Arthur Troop - official photograph taken in 1995 to mark the opening of the Arthur Troop Conference Room at Arthur Troop House, Nottingham (BSAC)

1998

Crime and Disorder Act – ASBOs, fixed penalties for certain criminal offences

1998

National Crime Squad

1999

McPherson enquiry

2003

first black Chief Constable appointed – Mike Fuller (Kent)

2003

Use of ANPR

2003

Hand-held portable fingerprint scanners

2005

London underground bombings

2012

introduction of Police & Crime Commissioners replacing Police Authorities

2013

Amalgamation of 8 Scottish Police Forces Amalgamation of 8 Scottish police forces to create Police Scotland

2014

Creation of the National College of Policing – first police professional body