Page 13 - Real Rochdale Issue 05 Summer 2019

Rochdale Borough

Police Force

50th ANNIVERSARY OF AMALGAMATION

WITH LANCASHIRE CONSTABULARY

The 50th anniversary of the amalgamation of the Rochdale Borough Police Force into Lancashire
Constabulary was commemorated on 1 April 2019 at Rochdale Town Hall.

To celebrate the day, the Rochdale Branch of the National Association of Retired Police
Officers (NAPRO) invited surviving members, together with widows/widowers, of the old
Rochdale Borough Police Force, to the usually closed off police cells at Rochdale Town Hall
where the area containing six cells, including one for females, with a toilet in each as well as a
shared bathroom at the end of the block, could be browsed.

Members of NAPRO organised displays of memorabilia and photographs throughout the cells
from when the local force was formed, up to the amalgamation on 1 April 1969.

Ranging from ceremonial swords from 1870, NAPRO aimed to provide those same
to Hiatt Nipper handcuffs used in court escort treasured keepsakes and produced a
from 1910, the cell blocks were filled with commemorative reminder for the 50th
local history. anniversary, like the ones received 50 years
ago at the farewell service to remind the
In April 1857 when the Rochdale County officers of their work.
Borough Police was formed, there were 15
serving officers: one superintendent, two Secretary of the Rochdale Branch of the
sergeants and 12 constables. The first working Retired Police Officers Group, John Bamford,
year of the police force cost £1,235. said: “This celebration is purely a show of
appreciation for those who truly policed the
112 years later, on Sunday 30 March 1969 at town, before we even had radios or
10.00am, Rochdale Borough Police Force computers, and every street was manned.
assembled for the very last time in a parade
from Rochdale Town Hall to Rochdale Parish “The people here are Rochdale people
Church of St Chad’s. through and through.

There were over 200 officers and workers on “I joined the police force in 1978 and when I
Rochdale Borough Police Force at that time. retired in 2009 I made sure to stay in touch
with all the men. Some of the people we
Keepsakes were gifted to all of the force at a contacted to join us today have come from
farewell service at St Chad’s, taking place as far as the Isle of Man, Scotland and even
before the amalgamation with other forces into Australia.
a new Lancashire Constabulary.
“Thank you to everyone who has joined us at
this celebration.”

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