Warrington has not always been a part of the county and our wider Cheshire Constabulary family and even had its own police force that patrolled the beats of the town known as the Warrington Borough Police (WBP) that operated for over 120 when the area sat within Lancashire County.
The Borough force was amalgamated with the Lancashire Constabulary in 1969, and in 1974 there was a further amalgamation when Warrington went into the existing Cheshire Constabulary.
WBP was active between 1847 and 1969, with officers operating out of Arpley Street Station, that was fondly referred to at the time as the “Palace of Justice”, from its opening in 1901 to 1969.
These officers tackled crime without the support squads of cars, mobile phones and radios, multiple specialist departments and crime-fighting technological advancements the Constabulary has today - many only equipped with a notebook, pencil, truncheon and cuffs and a pair of beat-worthy boots.
After receiving a NARPO (National Association of Retired Police Officers) enquiry regarding the number of surviving members of the WBP, former Cheshire Police Officer, support staff and now Museum Manager Peter Hampson found himself wondering if anything could be done to immortalise the work of the Warrington Borough Police officers who kept the town safe for nearly seven decades before it became a part of Lancashire.
A budding historian who worked within the force, and served alongside many of the Borough Police officers, Peter understood the importance of recognising this unique part of the Constabulary’s history.
After a conversation with at-the-time Warrington Area Commander Adam Ross, who swiftly contacted the Chief and fellow Museum volunteer and former Cheshire Detective officer Chris Upham to propose plans to commemorative the officers, the green light was given to mount a permanent plaque to the entrance of Arpley Street station.
It was decided that a cast bronze plaque would be affixed to the entrance of the Victorian station, with funds kindly being provided by trustees from the Cheshire Police Federation, to act as an eternal reminder of the officers’ service to the people of Warrington.
On Friday 1 August, 15 of the surviving 30 WBP officers and their families were welcomed to Arpley Street alongside Chief Constable Mark Roberts, members of the Constabulary’s senior leadership and command team, Chaplin’s Tony Hunt and Howard Welsby, Warrington Mayor Mo Hussain, MP’s Charlotte Nichols and Sarah Hall for an official ceremony and plaque unveiling.
Also amongst the attendees was 92-year-old former Warrington Borough Police officer Det Sgt George Bramall, who joined the force in the 1950’s
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, who unveiled the plaque at historic station, said:
“We hope that we can get real millage out of this building (Arpley Street) for another 100 years or so, as it really is an intrinsic part of the community.
“The really touching thing here is to see so many of you, former Warrington Borough officers.
“Policing is really a job like no other and the fact that people are coming here and seeing each other, some that they have not seen for a long time, that really is the key fabric of policing and Cheshire Constabulary.”
Museum Manager Peter Hampson added:
“We are very pleased to have former members of the Warrington Borough Police here today, all of whom I have worked with, and all of whom I first met as a 16-year-old cadet when I first entered this building in1972.
“As a cadet I can honestly say that I have made all of them a brew at some time. As that was one of my main duties.
“I know that it is vital that we remember our past, the officers who served here when it first opened in 1901. Did the job without radios, no fleets of cars and motorcycles. No vans to transport prisoners, no DNA, not many support staff, no lots of things. Yet they did the job.
“It is very important that we remember the past and keep that history for posterity and research. Let’s not forget history started yesterday. And with the unveiling of this plaque today we have achieved just that.
“Not forgetting (to thank) Chris Upham, we couldn’t have done it without you, and your lady wife Margie for making the curtains… and our serving officers who are here this morning and finally my magnificent volunteers who put in many hours in community engagement on behalf of the Constabulary.”