Exhibition will explore police past
Chichester once had its very own police force and nearly 100 years later, housed the headquarters of the West Sussex Constabulary.
Before the County and Police Act 1856 made it compulsory for counties to have their own police force, law enforcement relied on parish constables and prosecuting societies keeping the peace.
The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 allowed boroughs to form their own police force, though it was not compulsory. Chichester City Police and Arundel Borough Police were formed in 1836 but in 1889, they were amalgamated into the new West Sussex Constabulary.
This was formed on April 4, 1857, and grew after the Local Government Act 1888 ruled that boroughs with less than 10,000 people were not required to have their own police force.
West Sussex Record Office holds the West Sussex Constabulary archive, which includes a wealth of documents and information, but former policeman Alan Moore has also gathered a huge amount of information, photographs, badges, medals and period uniforms, and for the third year running, will be putting his personal collection on public display.
A History of West Sussex Constabulary 1857 to 1967 will be on display in The Old Court
Room at the Council House, North Street, Chichester, from February 23 to 28, 10am to 4pm, except Sunday, and admission is free.
Alan said: "This year is special to me, as I will have completed 56 years in public service. Although I am retired, I still carry out duties such as Neighbourhood Watch and Community Speedwatch in north Chichester. I am hoping for a record attendance in 2024."
Alan has been collecting police memorabilia for years but his serious research began about seven years ago. He has collected pictures from ebay and auctions, as well as receiving some direct contributions, and has gathered hundreds of pages of information.
Key moments of the Chichester district's past have been explored in Alan's exhibition, including a murder that remains unsolved and a cricket match at Priory Park for the retirement of Chief Constable Captain George Drummond from the constabulary in 1912.