Skip to main content

‘Off the Straight & Narrow'

Early Dorset Police files record some colourful instances of constables getting into hot water for ‘wandering from the straight & narrow.’

In February 1857, Constable Charles Guy of Blandford Division was fined ten shillings (50p) for being drunk. As a punishment he was ordered to move to another station at his own expense. Guy refused to do this so as a result was given a punishment of 14 days hard labour and he was dismissed from the force by the Chief Constable, Colonel Cox.

In June 1867, Constable Rolls was fined ten shillings ‘for lying down in the road when escorting a prisoner and allowing him to wander off out of sight.’ Apparently, the constable’s defence was that he was tired and that his offence was a trivial one. This did not impress the Chief Constable.

In July 1857, Constable Hodges spent several hours playing skittles in a public house at Iwerne Minster. While there he had his handcuffs stolen by a fellow drinker whom Hodges then arrested and took before a magistrate. However, the magistrate dismissed the case. Hodges was fined one pound and dismissed from the force.

A Wareham constable lost his temper and kicked his lamp for around half a mile up the Turnpike Road. Unimpressed by this action, the Chief Constable downgraded the constable to a constable class 2 and instructed him to pay for the damage done.

In October 1859, the Chief Constable complained that during the previous month no less than twelve constables had been reported for being under the influence of drink with some being on special duty.

In May 1861, Constable Richard Hann was reported to have been dancing in the Nags Head Club Room during the evening of the 23rd May when he should have been on duty. He denied this before the Bench. Hann was demoted to a police constable class 3 by the Chief Constable and removed from Cerne Abbas to Winterborne Whitchurch at his own expense.

In January 1862, PC Collins was severely censured and dismissed from the force. On Christmas Eve, he took a prisoner in his custody into an Inn at Piddletrenthide and regaled him with alcoholic drink.

(Source: Policing Victorian Dorset by Maurice Hann (1989)

Illustration: Dorset's first Chief Constable: Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Symes Cox.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Panda Pops

Panda  Blue Rasperry Ade, Strawberry Jelly & Ice Cream and Casper Ghostly Limeade were all unique soft drink flavours produced by the Panda Pops brand owned by Badger Beers. Panda Pops were often sold in small bottles of fizzy drink that were as sweet and sticky as it was as possible for them to be. Other popular Panda Pop flavours were Cherry Ade and Bright Green Cola. Even more singular blends could be concocted by mixing two or more flavours in a Panda Pops mixing bowl. Panda Cola achieved a sort of cult status and there is even a song, ‘ Warm Panda Cola’ . While among Panda aficionados there was even the spoof blend of Princess Diana Memorial flavour! The Blandford drink competed remarkably well against American giants Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola. Panda Pops date back to the 1960s when the Blandford brewer dropped the name of Sunparlor for its soft drink brands. Sunparlor had also been the name of a winning race horse owned by a member of the Woodhouse family. Cream soda was...
3 comments
Read more

History Slice with an Aussie Flavour.

  From Dorset Gallows to Van Diemen’s Land is the unlikely but true story of political corruption, hangings and transportation in the small market town of Blandford in Southern England.  It is available as a paperback from  Amazon in the United Kingdom, Australia and the USA. The book uncovers the extraordinary tale of two ordinary men, George Long a shoemaker and Richard Bleathman a butcher. Driven by belief and dissatisfaction they are swept along by events. Sentenced to be hanged in Dorchester Gaol for their protests against political corruption they are instead, following clemency appeals,  transported to Van Diemen’s Land -  on the other side of the world. ‘A fascinatingly  good read.  This book entirely complements the story of the Tolpuddle Martyrs - also transported to Australia.’ (Richard Holledge, newspaper editor, freelance journalist - London. As read in the Independent, New York Times & Financial Times. Author of   Voices of the M...
Post a Comment
Read more

Blandford’s Magpie Mick

Do you remember Mick Robertson - presenter with Jenny Hanley on ITV children’s programme Magpie  in the 1970s? For many years, Mick lived just outside Blandford in the village of Ibberton in the shadows of Bulbarrow Hill. Living nearby was Jack Hargreaves another television presenter and writer who had a keen interest in the North Dorset countryside.  Initially, Mick trained as a teacher before working in television as a researcher. After presenting Magpie, Mick produced many award winning programmes for children. In 2007, he was given the Special Children’s BAFTA Award for his television work . Although now retired Mick retains an interest in television as a family member is the Executive Producer on the popular television series the  Repair Shop. He is a lifetime follower of both County Cricket and Portsmouth Football Club. Together with  ex-Magpie presenting mate Tommy Boyd,  he is a regular contributor to internet radio station  Pompey Sound.  Mick...
Post a Comment
Read more