Research on Whittington's police has been compiled by Phil Wood.  Please contact him on phil.norcis@ntlworld.com if you can contribute any more information.

In the 1666 Hearth Tax two Justices of the Peace are mentioned: - John Pershouse, and Henry Gray. They were assisted by a constable, William Shorthose.  Some residents of the village were exempt from hearth taxes for various reasons, and these were allowed by the justices of the peace.  For that year the exemptions were allowed by John Pershouse, with Jo Wyrly, and John Deakyn, another constable.

Whittington people must have been VERY law abiding lot for the next 85 years or so, as there is little other recorded history of a law enforcement system.

In 1751 a warrant was issued by Felliplace Nott J.P. to constables and headborough of Staffordshire to search houses at Whittington, for game in possession of unqualified persons.

In January 1761 several inhabitants of Lichfield were stopped on Whittington Heath on their return from Tamworth Market by a single highwayman on a bay horse with a bald face. From Mr. Gregory, a dyer, he took nine pence, and a silver coat button; from Mr. Harvey Hartwell he took  9 or 10 shillings; and from a poor pie woman half-a-crown. Broughton, an old man who sold linen cloth, escaped by galloping, though his horse was loaded. The rogue fired a pistol, but happily missed him. It was also the custom for Highwaymen to work as a syndicate and if you were robbed on a particular day, you would be given immunity for the remainder of that day by giving a “password” which would be given to them by the first highwayman.

In 1780 the Whittington Association for the prosecution of felons was formed, which covered Fisherwick and Tamhorn; this association lasted until at least 1828.

In 1828, Sir Robert Peel, MP, reformed the Police Force in Britain. Until about 1830s Law and Order was the responsibility of the local parish constables. In 1839, a law was passed enabling magistrates to establish a Police Force in their counties.

A note on police pay: in 1842 a Staffordshire police constable was paid 17 shillings = (70 pence today) for a week's work, and could only have up to 14 days annual leave at the discretion of his Commanding Officer and provided he had shown good conduct in that year.  Whittington Village came under the jurisdiction of the North Offlow Hundred and Lichfield diocese.

On Christmas day 1848, Samuel Thomas, a Policeman, and his wife Eliza baptized their son Albert George Thomas aged 3, Samuel may have worked in Whittington.  Samuel Thomas baptized another child, Laura Eliza, on 30^th May1849; he was still a policeman.  A William Alfred Thomas, Policeman and his wife Elizabeth, baptised Alfred William Thomas on 8^th Dec 1850 were the two Thomas’s related? I don’t know.  In 1851 on 14^th Sept, Samuel Thomas described himself as a “Police Officer” perhaps he had been promoted.

In 1856, the County and Borough Police Act required local magistrates to establish a Police Force. Clearly, Whittington had already done so prior to this compulsion.

On 13^th Jan 1859, James Haynes, described himself as a “Policeman” when he and his wife Elizabeth baptized James their son at St Giles, Whittington.

1862 “Policeman” John Hollis and his wife Louisa baptized two children at St Giles, Whittington on 6^th Sept; the children took their parents names, John and Louisa.

1864 Robert Swift and his wife Alice Amelia baptized a daughter Milla Matilda at St Giles, Whittington on 10^th July; Robert was a “Policeman”.  1866 Robert and Alice baptized Herbert John Swift on 24^th June at St Giles, Whittington; Robert was still a “Policeman”.

1867 “Police Constable” Thomas Baron and his wife Elizabeth baptized Charles Baron on 26^th May at St Giles, Whittington. (Baron or Bason)

In 1868, when baptizing a child, William Wooton, gave his occupation as a Policeman, though he may not have been based in Whittington.

Another baptism in 1877 reveals that the father of Harry Hales was Thomas Hales, who was a Policeman though again he may not have been in Whittington. Later the same year (1877) Robert Swift, now a retired Policeman and pensioner baptized his daughter Alice Martha.

Police Sergeant William Pearson and his wife Sarah, both from Ireland, baptized their little Lizzie 7^th March 1880.   In 1881 census, Sergeant William Pearson had a boarder staying at the Police Station with his family, his name was William Simpson, aged 23 and he was a Police Constable.

It may have been a separate property, but also listed at The Police Station 1881 census was Police Constable James Sands age 31 from Arlington, Sussex, and his wife Charlotte age 32 from Heathfield, Sussex.

Police Sergeant William Pearson and Sarah, baptized son William Henry on 5 Nov 1882, and daughter Lilian Maud 30 Nov 1884, William served in Whittington and lived at the Police station there.

Another Police Sergeant George Given, and his wife Emily baptized two girls (possibly Twins) Lillian Rebecca, and Emily Emma, on 22^nd Dec 1889; they also lived in Whittington.

Police Constable John Hallam Eyre, age 31 of Stoke-on-Trent, and his wife Ann, age 28 of Clungunford, Shropshire, baptized their son William George Robert, on 3^rd May 1891, and the family were living in Whittington; they had another son John C Eyre in 1890.

In 1891 there was also a Sergeant of Police by the name of Samuel Templeton, age 36, and his wife Jane, age 30. They had 3 children at that time, Francis T age 5, Samuel E age 3, and Harriet E aged 1.  At the same address was Police Constable George Pearson age 29, and unmarried.

John Wood, Sergeant, County Constabulary, and his wife Clara, baptized little John Wood, on 19^th Jan 1896, at St Giles Church and gave their address as Whittington.

In 1891 there was another Sergeant of Police by the name of Samuel Templeton, age 36 of Ireland, and his wife Jane, age 30 of Stafford. They had 3 children at that time, Francis T age 5, Samuel E age 3, and Harriet E aged 1; all were born in Stafford. At the same address was Police Constable George Pearson age 29 of West Bromwich, and unmarried.

William Payne gave his occupation as a Police Officer when he married Annie Hood in 1897, at St Giles, Whittington, but we don’t know if that is where he served.

John Wood, Sergeant of Staffordshire Constabulary, mentioned above, and his wife Clara baptized Harold Arthur on 3^rd Nov 1901; they lived in Whittington Police Station at census date.

In May 1905 there was a jewellery robbery at the property of Capt. Lindsay Buchanan Scott, and his wife, Sidney Scott - The Hawthorns in Church Street, Whittington.  The robbery was investigated by Police Sergeant Williams, who was stationed in Whittington.  Most of the property was recovered from pubs in the Wolverhampton and Kidderminster areas.

In 1912 there are listed in Kelly’s Directory, a Police Station, and James William Haynes, Sergeant, (possibly descendant of James Hayes and Elizabeth mentioned in 1859.) and 1 Constable.

In 1914 Benjamin Shaw, Police Constable, and his wife Agnes, baptized their little Lizzie Shaw on 4^th November.

In 1916 the above mentioned Sergeant James William Haynes and his wife Mary Ann baptized their son Harry on 12th March at St Giles, Whittington. Also, Police Constable Benjamin Shaw, and his wife Agnes, baptized their son Albert Edward at St Giles, Whittington on the 16^th July, but we do not know where he served.

I have an early 1920-30s photograph showing “The Old Police Station” or “TOPS”, as shown in the drawing above, on the cross road of Main Street and Church Street, it shows a poster on the wall which intrigues me, as I cannot make out the wording, even with magnifying lenses, the wording might give clues as to the date of the print.

1n 1921 Kelly’s Directory the Sergeant is now Charles Thomas Harrington, and 1 Constable.

In 1923 George Ernest Spraggett, and wife Alice baptized George Charles on 14 October. The father described himself as a “Police Constable”, and he may have served locally?

In 1924 Electoral Register, the above Sergeant Harrington, and probably his wife? Mary Ann, are residing at the Police Station.

In 1930 Thomas Reginald Flavell baptized his daughter, Maureen Gladys, his wife was named Gertrude, and he gave his occupation as Policeman, though I don’t know where he served.

In 1931 Frederick Thorpe and his wife Caroline were living at the Police Station.

In 1936 Frederick Thorpe and his wife Caroline were still resident at the Police Station.  Charles William Giffard Inge Esq. was a Justice of the Peace, as was Brigadier-General W Vigant, C.M.G., D.S.O., D.L., J.P.

In 1939 there was a Sergeant Woodward in wartime Whittington complete with his bike!

In 1940 the position was similar, but only Mr. Inge is listed as a J.P.

In 1942 Richard John Clamp gave his occupation as Policeman when baptizing his daughter, Rosalie Anne; her mother was Nellie; it is not known where he served.

In 1944 Hugh Turnock, Police Constable, and wife, Alice Edna, baptized their daughter, Edna, at St Giles, Hugh.  He served in Whittington for many years; he died in 1983.

I am told that Hughie reported to Eric Baines, his Sergeant, who was an Australian.

Eric was a former Guardsman, who stayed on in England after the war, and became a police officer.  He and his wife, two sons and two daughters, returned to Australia in the 1950’s where he joined the Australian Federal Police.  For a time he served at the Australian Embassy in Moscow.  He later moved to Brisbane.

Malcolm Meddings was the police officer in the 1960’s; he died in the mid 1990s.

Richard Norton was a serving officer until 2001, when he retired.

Opposite St Giles church, are two houses which were police houses, for a few decades, the right hand side one having the police office and cells.

In 2002, Whittington and St John’s area of Lichfield are the responsibility of Sergeant Czechowski.

In 2003 the local officer was Julie Bailey.

In 2004 Ray Foster, with 17 years service, was the “Community Beat Officer” and his area covered many other rural villages.