High Constabulary of the Port of Leith
{{Short description|Scottish honorary society, formerly law enforcement}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
High Constabulary of the Port of Leith was founded in the late 17th century, to deal with safety in the royal port and behaviour in streets of the port of Leith near Edinburgh, Scotland. It continues to this day as a ceremonial port police organisation.
Known as Leith High Constables, the organisation is now an honorary society, supporting the City of Edinburgh Council and the monarchy.
The Leith High Constables continue in their own society with selected members, convened by a moderator {{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} for ceremonial attendance at events, raising charitable donations through annual dinners and other fundraising. There is a specific formal dress code including top-hats, tails, waistcoats and ceremonial batons,{{Cite web|url=https://conferencecall.eicc.co.uk/2013/summer/destination/|title=Shining a light on Leith: EICC Conference Call – Summer 2013|last=Munro|first=Gordon|date=2013|website=conferencecall.eicc.co.uk|access-date=20 January 2020}} and more recently{{Cite web|url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/historic-perth-society-high-constables-13344568|title=Historic group to move with the times|last=Advertiser|first=Perthshire|date=2 October 2018|website=dailyrecord|access-date=20 January 2020}} formal dress specified for women High Constables, similar to those of the other High Constables of Scotland, in Edinburgh and in Perth.{{Cite web|url=http://www.highconstablesperth.org/index.php|title=Society of the High Constables of the City of Perth|website=www.highconstablesperth.org|access-date=20 January 2020}}
The official blazon (coat of arms) of the Leith High Constabulary was not awarded until 2014, by the Court of the Lord Lyon, and includes the coat of arms of Leith itself and the Leith motto 'PERSEVERE'.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=High_Constabulary_of_the_Port_of_Leith|title=High Constabulary of the Port of Leith – Coat of arms (crest) of High Constabulary of the Port of Leith|website=www.heraldry-wiki.com|language=en|access-date=19 January 2020}}
Purpose
File:0 buildings - kings wark leith.jpg, Port of Leith]]
High Constables were first appointed in 1611, by the magistrates of the ancient Royal Port of Leith,{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/37260466|title=The port of Leith : its history and its people|last=Mowat|first=Sue|date=1994|publisher=Forth Ports in association with J. Donald Publishers|isbn=0-85976-403-6|location=Leith, Edinburgh|oclc=37260466}} similar to the Edinburgh High Constables were set up as a group to act together to uphold regulations on cleanliness and orderliness, keeping the peace, law and order.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghhighconstables.org.uk/history.html|title=Edinburgh High Constables – History|website=www.edinburghhighconstables.org.uk|access-date=19 January 2020}} Being based in the port, the 50 High Constables here were also expected to stop any pirates or smugglers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.highconstablesperth.org/index.php/history/kindred-societies|title=High Constables – Kindred Societies|website=www.highconstablesperth.org|access-date=20 January 2020}} High Constables had powers to arrest anyone outside after the night curfew, or found carrying weapons. Prior to a formal police service, Constables were expected to take control during any rioting, disorder, or in cases of bloodshed or even murder, on the streets within their jurisdiction. High Constables were selected and appointed by the baillies and later the Lord Provost.{{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} Sometimes, like in 1657, High Constables had to arrest people for breach of the Sabbath – in that case, the Leith bailiies 'bickering'.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mEM2AAAAMAAJ&q=Leith|title=Sketch of the History of the High Constables of Edinburgh: With Notes on the Early Watching, Cleaning, and Other Police Arrangements of the City|last=Marwick|first=Sir James David|date=1865|publisher=private circulation|language=en}}
= Guard of Honour =
File:George IV at Leith.jpg by Alexander Carse, 1822]]
On the occasion of George IV's arrival at the start of first royal visit by the reigning Monarch, in two centuries the Leith High Constables paraded when King George IV arrived at Leith Harbour. A large ceremonial portrayal of the occasion, was commissioned from Alexander Carse and was hung in the old Leith City Chambers, now occupied by the Leith branch of Police Scotland.
Leith High Constables were guard of honour along Leith Links during the later visit of Queen Victoria in 1842,{{Cite book|title=Queen Victoria in Scotland 1842|publisher=Black|others=Victoria|year=1842|pages=27–28}} when their contribution was praised to the Monarch by the Lord Provost: 'In consequence of the universal feeling of satisfaction and joy, which pervaded all classes, aided by the excellent arrangements of the High Constables and Moderators, the utmost regularity and good order prevailed;'
The High Constables would also attend with the Lord Provost at Remembrance Day wreath laying and services,{{Cite web|url=https://www.blipfoto.com/entry/3664596|title=Three High Constables of Leith {{!}} Lali|website=Blipfoto|access-date=20 January 2020}} and the annual Festival Parade.
Leith High Constables are providing a guard of honour to mark when the first trams to Leith and Newhaven, run again, after 70 years, on 7 June 2023.{{Cite web |last=Dewar |first=Caitlyn |date=2023-06-07 |title=Long-awaited tram extension to carry first passengers |url=https://news.stv.tv/east-central/long-awaited-edinburgh-trams-to-newhaven-extension-to-carry-first-passengers |access-date=2023-06-07 |website=STV News |language=en-GB}} They are also part of the procession for the Honours of Scotland being presented to King Charles III and Queen Camilla at St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh on 5 July 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-09 |title=King and Queen to be honoured at a national service in Scotland |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23578840.king-queen-honoured-national-service/ |access-date=2023-06-09 |website=The National |language=en}}
= Batons =
The use of the Leith High Constables' ceremonial batons (being under 100 years old) was raised with Knife Crime Consultation Unit of the Scottish Executive, in July 2005, regarding the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Scotland) Order 2005 (SSI 2005/483) paragraph 1(q) of the schedule, by the High Constables of Edinburgh requesting an amendment of the law to permit their use in the streets of the city.Letter from Leonard Wallace ex Moderator High Constables of Edinburgh to Knife Crime Consultation Unit 8 July 2005
{{boxquote|1. Section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (offensive weapons) shall apply to the following descriptions of weapons, other than weapons of those descriptions which are antiques for the purposes of this Schedule:
[...]
(q) a straight, side handled or friction lock truncheon (sometimes known as a baton).}}
= Social events =
Members and office bearers (past and present)
In 1907-8 the Leith High Constables Office bearers were:
Moderator John Herdman,
Vice-Moderator John Inglis,
Treasurer James Galloway,
Chaplain John T. Ramage,
Custodier Charles Sanderson,
Surgeon O.H. Garland, M.D., FRCPE,
Secretary George. P. Gallloway, S.S.C., 33 Bernard Street, Leith
In 1972, a former Moderator of Leith High Constables, Andrew Dick Wood published a history of the organisation up to the 1960s.{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/629063|title=The High Constabulary of the Port of Leith; a short history.|last=Wood, Andrew Dick.|date=1972|publisher=Macdonald Printers (Edinburgh) Ltd|isbn=0-9502550-0-9|location=Loanhead|oclc=629063}} In 1975, John Bottomley became both the Swedish Consul and a High Constable of Leith.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-john-bottomley-company-chairman-who-made-edinburgh-his-home-1-4753106|title=Obituary: John Bottomley, company chairman who made Edinburgh his home|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en|access-date=19 January 2020}}
In 1988, the Leith High Constables were photographed being inspected by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh as they lined Leith Docks, during a Royal Visit.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghcollected.org/memories/6491|title=Duke of Edinburgh inspects the Leith High Constables at Leith Docks, 27 June 1988|last=Clapperton|first=R|website=www.edinburghcollected.org|date=28 June 2018 |id=Donor reference 0316-004|access-date=20 January 2020}}
In 2004, the Edinburgh High Constables (including those from Leith) escorted Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from the City Chambers, down the Royal Mile High Street in the parade for the opening of the Scottish Parliament.{{Cite web|url=https://www.edinburghhighconstables.org.uk/history.html|title=Edinburgh High Constables – History|website=www.edinburghhighconstables.org.uk|access-date=20 January 2020}}
In 2019 & 2020 the Leith High Constables Officer bearers {{Citation needed|date=January 2020}} and members, had their annual dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/scottish-field/20190326/284872301929040|title=Scottish Field|date=26 March 2019|via=PressReader|access-date=19 January 2020}}
Further information about Leith Police
The history of the Port of Leith and the City of Edinburgh developed separately with Leith becoming a Burgh in 1833,{{Cite book|url=http://www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk|title=Explore Historic Leith|publisher=Leith Local History Society|pages=10, 14}} and then, despite local opposition, amalgamating with Edinburgh in 1920.{{Cite web|url=http://british-police-history.uk/show_nav.cgi?force=leith_burgh&tab=0&nav=alpha|title=British Police History – Leith Burgh Police|website=british-police-history.uk|access-date=19 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.electricscotland.com/history/leith/33.htm|title=The Story of Leith – XXXIII. How Leith was Governed|website=www.electricscotland.com|access-date=19 January 2020}} The High Constables were collaborating to resolve criminal and civil disorderly behaviour in the streets of the capital or the nearby burgh of Leith, and the in-between areas, for some two hundred years before the establishment of the current statutory Police Services.
The Burgh of Leith Police was founded in 1859, and has a challenging tongue twister{{Cite web|url=https://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/blog/most-difficult-tongue-twisters/|title=The Most Difficult Tongue Twisters|website=Acting Coach Scotland|language=en|access-date=19 January 2020}} associated with it, 'the Leith Police dismisseth us