Shropshire Constabulary
Shropshire Constabulary was the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Shropshire in central England from 1840{{Cite web|title=British Police History|url=http://british-police-history.uk/f/shropshire/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=british-police-history.uk}} until 1967, when it became part of West Mercia Constabulary.{{Cite web|title=Conservation of West Mercia Police records – Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service|url=https://www.explorethepast.co.uk/2016/03/conservation-of-west-mercia-police-records/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=www.explorethepast.co.uk}}
History
The Shropshire Constabulary was formed along with borough forces in the towns of Shrewsbury,{{Cite web|title=Shropshire Constabulary and Shrewsbury Borough Police - WW2|url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/37901|access-date=2020-07-08|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en}} Bridgnorth,{{Cite web|last=Council|first=Shropshire|title=Shropshire Community Directory - West Mercia Police (Bridgnorth)|url=http://search3.openobjects.com/kb5/shropshire/cd/view.page?record=WkYD03cHr9I|access-date=2020-07-08|website=search3.openobjects.com|language=en}} Ludlow,{{Cite web|last=Neal|first=Toby|title=Former Shropshire police chief dies at 95|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/south-shropshire/ludlow/2020/01/06/ludlow-police-chief-dies-at-95/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=www.shropshirestar.com|language=en}} Much Wenlock{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Rory|title=Coronavirus: Police increase patrols after lockdown breaches in Bridgnorth, Oswestry and Much Wenlock|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/crime/2020/04/30/coronavirus-police-increase-patrols-after-lockdown-breaches-in-bridgnorth-oswestry-and-much-wenlock/|access-date=2020-07-08|website=www.shropshirestar.com|language=en}} and Oswestry.{{Cite book|last=Johnstone|first=Janet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IEmDQAAQBAJ&q=Shropshire+Constabulary%2C+oswestry&pg=PT142|title=Oswestry and Whitchurch in the Great War|date=2016-08-31|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-4385-1|language=en}} In the early years they were known as ‘Paddy Mayne’s grasshoppers’ and rabbits because the first Chief Constable was Irish and the constables wore green uniforms. {{cite web|url=http://www.archivezone.org.uk/historic-periods/victorians/shropshire-constabulary-1859/|title= Shropshire Constabulary, 1859|publisher= Shropshire Archives|accessdate= 11 July 2018}} The headquarters were at 27, Swan Hill, Shrewsbury.
In 1947 the Shropshire Constabulary absorbed Shrewsbury Borough Constabulary. On 1 October 1967 the Shropshire Constabulary was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Constabulary, Herefordshire Constabulary and Worcester City Police to form the West Mercia Constabulary, later the West Mercia Police.
Chief Constables
- 1840–1859 : John Dawson Mayne (first Chief Constable of Shropshire)
- 1859–1864 : Captain Philip Henry Crampton
- 1864–1866 : Colonel Edward B. Cureton
- 1866-1889 : Colonel R. J. Edgell
- 1890–1905 : Captain George Williams Freeman
- 1905–1908 : Major Llewellyn William Atcherley (later Sir Llewellyn Acherley)
- 1908–1914 : Captain Gerard Lysley Derriman (killed in action, World War I, 1915)
- 1916–1918 : A. Wood-Acton
- 1918–1935 : Major Jack Becke
- 1935–1946 : Lt Colonel Harold A. Golden
- 5 February 1946–6 February 1946 : Anthony TewNew Police Chief Gives Up Post. Derby Telegraph. 6 February 1946. p. 8
- 1946–1962 : Douglas Osmond (later Sir Douglas Osmond)
- 1962–1967 : Robert George Fenwick
- 1967 : Merged with other forces to form West Mercia Constabulary