| Located At | Staffordshire Record Office |
| Level | Collection |
| Doc Ref No | C/PC, D3243/10/1, 3813/2, 3861, D3958/1, D5073, 5854, 6055/1/1 |
| Title | Records of the Staffordshire Police, formerly Staffordshire Constabulary |
| Administrative History | Staffordshire Constabulary was formed in October 1842 under the provisions of the County Police Act, 1839 and continued under that name until April 1929.
The first County force had three districts: Mining District (A) (Bilston, Willenhall, West Bromwich, Wednesbury, Smethwick, Handsworth); Pottery District (C) (Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton, Longton); and the Rural District (B) (the rest of the County).
The three districts excluded those Boroughs that already had their own police forces: Stafford (1840-1858), Newcastle (1834-1947), Walsall (1832-1966), Wolverhampton (1837-1966) and Tamworth (1840-1857). The Stafford Force signed a consolidation agreement with the County in February 1858. Lichfield Borough Police was created from the County force in 1856 and rejoined the County force in 1889. Further consolidation agreements were signed with West Bromwich (1898), Burton (1901) and Smethwick (1909). Hanley Borough Police was formed in 1870 and in 1910 Stoke on Trent City Police was formed with a merger of Hanley Borough Police and that part of the County Force area then within the Potteries Federation.
The Force was named Staffordshire County Police from April 1929 to 31 December 1967. During that time the Police Act, 1946, brought about the merger of the only non-County Borough Police Force (Newcastle) into the County Force. In 1965 there were 13 divisions - Bilston, Brierley Hill, Burton, Cannock, Leek, Lichfield, Newcastle, Smethwick, Stafford, Stone, Wednesbury, West Bromwich and Willenhall. In 1966-67 this was reduced to 8 divisions - Aldridge, Burton, Cannock, Leek, Lichfield, Newcastle, Stafford and Stone - when the West Midlands Police (Amalgamation) Order, 1966 established the West Midlands Police.
The County Force merged with Stoke on Trent City Police on 1 Jan 1968 and was renamed Staffordshire County and Stoke on Trent Constabulary (1 Jan 1968-April 1974). The 8 divisions from 1968-1980 were Burton, Newcastle, Lichfield, Cannock, Stafford, Leek, Stoke North (Hanley until 1971) and Stoke South (Longton until 1971). On 1 April 1974 the force lost part of its area to the new West Midlands Police and was renamed Staffordshire Police. From 1981 to 1991 there were 6 divisions - Lichfield, Cannock, Stafford, Leek, Stoke North and Stoke South. From 1992 there were 10 divisions in three areas (two area from 1993): Burslem, Hanley, Newcastle and Stoke; Burton, Leek and Stafford; Cannock, Lichfield and Wombourne |
| Date | 1842-2005 |
| Description | This collection comprises a wide range of records produced at Police Headquarters, Divisional Headquarters and at individual stations. In addition the collection includes some limited records of operational support units such as CID, Traffic Division and the Mounted Branch, although no records have survived for the Dog Branch. There are very limited records for the Special Constabulary and also for the Police Federation; Staffordshire Police Widows and Benevolent Fund Friendly Society; the Police Band and the Police Cadets.
The strength of the collection lies in the central administrative records, including a complete set of personnel registers, 1842-1977; and General Orders, 1857-2000, supplemented over time by various reports and correspondence of the Chief Constable. Survival of records from individual stations varies. One of the best represented is Leek Station, for which there are lists of cases sent to Petty Sessions, offence and charge books, accounts and various registers, including a register of aliens, 1914-1946. For some other stations no records have survived. In addition there is a large collection of records relating to and collected by the Staffordshire Police Museum, some of which was donated by police officers and their families.
Arrangement
Since the divisional boundaries have changed frequently records from the divisions and individual stations have been arranged under area headings. |
| Extent | (20 sections) |
| AccessNote | Access Restricted |
| Access Conditions | Staffordshire Police is a public body. This means that its records fall within the remit of the Freedom of Information Act, 2000. Anyone has a right to access the information contained in the records unless there is a particular reason why that right should be restricted. The Freedom of Information Act clearly defines the reasons for exemptions from the release of information.
Some Staffordshire Police records will be marked 'access restricted' in the online catalogue. Anyone wishing to consult 'access restricted' records should be aware that the closure periods are not necessarily absolute. However it is also important to be aware that some information contained in 'access restricted' records is sensitive.
If you require access to Staffordshire Police records, which are marked 'access restricted' in this catalogue, then please contact the Archive Service in writing giving details of the information which you are seeking. We may come back to you to request further clarification. We will then liaise with Staffordshire Police concerning your request. We will notify you of the decision within 20 working days. Access to the information will either be granted in full, granted with some restrictions or refused. If access to the information is refused, we will explain fully the exemption leading to that decision. |
| Copyright | Any questions concerning the publication of images of documents in this collection should be directed to the County Archivist, Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford ST16 2 LZ. |
| Related Material | Related records
See also:
Q/ACp for records of Staffordshire Quarter Sessions Police Committee, 1842-1888
C/PC/10-11 for records of Staffordshire Police Authority
C/PC/4 and C/PC/13 for records of Newcastle under Lyme Borough Police
C/PC/6, C/PC/14 and further records at Stoke on Trent City Archives for records of Stoke on Trent City Police and Hanley Borough Police
D5681 - Mr G W Huntbach's book as Commandant with Staffordshire Police Auxiliaries |