Caernarvonshire Constabulary Explained

Agencyname:Caernarvonshire Constabulary
Formed:1856
Dissolved:1 October 1950
Country:United Kingdom
Divtype:country
Divname:Wales
Subdivtype:police area
Subdivname:Caernarvonshire
Police:yes
Sworntype:Police officers
Sworn:174 (1950)[1]
Chief1position:Chief Constable
Officetype:Division

Caernarvonshire Constabulary was the Home Office police force for the county of Caernarvonshire, Wales from 1856 until 1950.

History

The Constabulary was formed in 1856, under the County and Borough Police Act 1856, to replace the existing parish constables responsible for enforcing the law in local areas.[2] [3]

It was overseen by the county's Court of Quarter Sessions until 1888, and afterwards was administered by the Standing Joint Committee of Quarter Sessions and Caernarfonshire County Council. The Constabulary consisted of five divisions or districts (with their headquarters in Caernarfon, Bangor, Conwy, Porthmadog and Nefyn), and Pwllheli district remained independent until 1879 and was amalgamated with Porthmadog in 1892.

In 1950, it had a total of 174 staff. Under the Police Act 1946, it amalgamated with Anglesey Constabulary and Merionethshire Constabulary to form the Gwynedd Constabulary in 1950, which was later renamed North Wales Police in 1974.[4] The Constabulary's archives are held at Gwynedd Archives.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jones, J. Owain . The History of the Caernarvonshire Constabulary, 1856–1950 . Caernarvonshire Historical Society, Gwenlyn Evans, Ltd . 1963 . Caernarfon . 90.
  2. Book: Jones . History of the Caernarvonshire Constabulary . 15–27.
  3. Web site: Caernarvonshire Constabulary: British Police History . 2022-10-28 . british-police-history.uk.
  4. Book: Jones . History of the Caernarvonshire Constabulary . 78–79.
  5. Web site: Records of the Caernarvonshire Constabulary - Archives Hub . 2022-10-28 . archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk.