Thames Valley Police is the largest police force outside the metropolitan area. Serving a population of over two million people, the Thames Valley force covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire, an area of 2,200 square miles.
The Origins of Thames Valley Police
It is thought that the earliest police force in the Thames Valley area dates back to the Newbury Borough Police Force, founded in 1773. Although their duties included apprehending criminals, it also included more mundane things such as repairing bridges and gates.
1835 saw the Municipal Corporation Act on the statute books. This ordered boroughs throughout the country to establish police forces under the control of a watch committee.
A year later, in 1836, a number of Borough police forces across the Thames valley had been established, these included Abingdon, Banbury, Buckingham, Chipping Norton, High Wycombe, Maidenhead, Reading and Wallingford Borough police.
It was almost 20 years before Parliament mandated that provinces establish police forces. The County and Borough Police Act 1856 part-funded the police forces from a grant from the Home Office.
The Formation of Constabularies
During the same year the Berkshire Constabulary was formed. This was followed by the formation of the Buckinghamshire Constabulary and the Oxfordshire Constabulary a year later.
During the First World War, hundreds of Thames Valley police officers left the service to join up and fight for their country. To help bolster the number of police officers, a number of special constables were recruited. For the first time women undertook certain police duties. Miss Grace Costin had the distinction of being appointed the first female officer in the Thames Valley area.
April 1, 1968 saw the formation of the Thames Valley Constabulary. It was created through the amalgamation of five forces; these were the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Constabularies and the Reading Borough police and Oxford City police. The first Chief Constable of the Constabulary was Mr. T.C.B Hodgson.
In 1971, Thames Valley Constabulary was given permission by the Police Authority to change its name to the Thames Valley Police. A new crest was granted along with the Latin motto ‘Sit Pax in Valle Tamesis’ which translates to ‘let there be peace in the Thames Valley’.
In 1829, Sir Richard Mayne wrote, “The primary object of an efficient police is the prevention of crime: the next that of detection and punishment of offenders if crime is committed. To these ends all the efforts of the police must be directed. The protection of life and property, the preservation of all public tranquility, and the absence of crime, will alone prove whether those efforts have been successful and whether the objects for which the police were appointed have been attained.’
Sources:
- Thames Valley Police online
- Metropolitan Police online
- Home Office.org.gov
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