Shropshire Constabulary was the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Shropshire in central England from 1840 until 1967, when it became part of West Mercia Constabulary.

History

The Shropshire Constabulary was formed along with borough forces in the towns of

Shrewsbury Shrewsbury ( , ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is sited on the River Severn, northwest of Wolverhampton, west of Telford, southeast of Wrexham and north of Hereford. At the 2021 United ...

Bridgnorth Bridgnorth is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire, England. The River Severn splits it into High Town and Low Town, the upper town on the right bank and the lower on the left bank of the River Severn. The population at the United Kingd ...

Ludlow Ludlow ( ) is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire (district), Shropshire, England. It is located south of Shrewsbury and north of Hereford, on the A49 road (Great Britain), A49 road which bypasses the town. The town is near the conf ...

Much Wenlock Much Wenlock is a market town and Civil parishes in England, parish in Shropshire, England; it is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the north-east, is the Ironbridge Gorge and Telford. The civil parish incl ...

and

Oswestry Oswestry ( ; ) is a market town, civil parish and historic railway town in Shropshire, England, close to the England–Wales border, Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5 road (Great Britain), A5, A483 road, A483 and A495 road, A495 ro ...

. 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. 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 Worcestershire Constabulary was the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Worcestershire in central England from 1839 until 1967, when it became part of West Mercia Constabulary. History The Worcestershire Constabulary was formed ...

, 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 World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, 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 The ''Derby Telegraph'', formerly the ''Derby Evening Telegraph'', is a daily tabloid newspaper distributed in the Derby area of England. Stories produced by the ''Derby Telegraph'' team are published online under the Derbyshire Live brand. Hi ...

''. 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''

References

{{UK home nations police forces Government agencies established in 1840 Organisations based in Shropshire Defunct police forces of England 1840 establishments in England 1967 disestablishments in England