SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

AndrewH wrote: ↑

Thu 02 Feb, 2023 10:32 am

Hi Jetwalking,

Not sure if you have found PS Hawcroft’s collar number yet, I am his Son.

If not it was 314, as he wrote it in his City of Bradford helmet

iansmithofotley wrote: ↑

Tue 01 Mar, 2022 11:12 pm

Hi Mick,

When I joined in 1965, there were no Divisional Chief Superintendents. Each of the Divisions - Central (Millgarth), West (Upper Wortley), North West (Ireland Wood), North East (Chapeltown), East (Gipton) and South (Dewsbury Road), had a Superintendent in charge. There was also a Uniform Chief Inspector and a Detective Chief Inspector - there were five Uniform Inspectors (one for each shift plus a spare) and no Divisional Detective Inspectors. Outside of the Divisions, such as at Force Headquarters, there were all ranks and in various Squads such as the Force Crime Squad and Regional Crime Squad, there were some Detective Inspectors. As you say, in 1968, when Unit Beat Policing was introduced (and there was also an increase in Force Establishment numbers), 'Jumbo Divisions' were established - A (Ireland Wood/Millgarth), B (Chapeltown/Gipton), C (Dewsbury Road/Upper Wortley) and each of the new Divisions got a Chief Superintendent and the head of the C.I.D. became a Detective Chief Superintendent (Denis Hoban) with a Deputy of Detective Superintendent (Jim Fryer). There were many promotions at this time in all ranks and in all departments. Anthony (Tiger) Timms died in December 2020, aged 95 years. I can remember him as a Superintendent at Dewsbury Road Police Station but his background was previously in Training.

Ian

jma wrote: ↑

Wed 07 Sep, 2016 10:06 pm

Unless I've confused him with someone else, I think that Inspector Camidge was the original inspector i/c the Juvenile Bureau when it was formed in November 1971 (I got that date but not his name from the history book.)

That was significant for me because I had investigated a case of robbery (which in legal terms means theft accompanied or preceded by threats or violence) and also GBH by a gang of juveniles. The newly-established Juvenile Bureau decided on cautions, which were much rarer in those far-off days, although the creation of that department showed which way policy was moving.

Anyway, our superintendent, whose nickname "Tiger" wasn't because he was particularly ferocious, was so disturbed by the decision that he went straight down to Brotherton House to make representations to Brian Molloy, the assistant chief constable. I think that this file was the first one to have gone through the bureau so it was a bit of a landmark case and the decision was that the cautions would be given. No point setting up a new unit and immediately undermining it. At least one member of the same gang was convicted in connection with a very serious offence just a few years later, which led to some "I told you so" type comments but looking back, I can't see that a prosecution rather than a caution would have made any difference to what eventually happened.