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Birmingham City Police 1839 - 1974

They existed until the NHS started according to the link in #109. Good to see the Rowland Mason Trophy continued.
 
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Old Boy said:
Hi All,
We seem to be getting mixed up with this Police Ambulance Division nonsense. I joined Birmingham City Police in 1952. There were no police ambulances then and I am reasonably satisfied there never were. After all what is the point in having 2 ambulance services, in fact 3 if one counts the St John Ambulance Brigade which is entirely voluntary and part time? N o. In fact if an accident occurs and there are persons injured the ambulance service is informed and they attend immediately, The Fire Brigade is called to rescue persons, if necessary, using specialist cutting equipment. Naturally They also attend if there is danger of fire e.g, leaking petrol. Fatal accidents cases requiring court action are dealt with by the police.
On joining every police officer below the rank of inspector is required to attend First Aid classes. Every year a team of about 6 offficers from each division who show the best aptitude for First Aid take part in the Rowland Mason First Aid competition . They were all normal police officers and wore the uniform of the day . Prior to 1952 they wore closed collar tunics but, thereafter, changed to collar and tie.
Old Boy
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Hi Old Boy,yes as police officers we were all trained in first aid.I think the point is getting lost that prior to 1948 we had no national health service as you are aware,so one of the two only services was the police and l would assume that these competitions came about to see who was the best.My grandfather who was an Inspector in Birmingham City Police has a Birmingham Police Ambulance medal dated 1911, probably this an early service of First Aid.........Joe90
 
Vivienne very good never seen anything like that before..........joe90
 
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I remember police boarding buses, on occasions during WW2, at Robin Hood roundabout in Hall Green. I mentioned this before. Identity cards had to be shown.
 
Further inspections during WW2. Viv.

Women's Auxilliary Police Corps
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Churchill inspection
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PE display at Villa Park. And there seems to have been a training school at Digbeth. Viv.

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First police radio cars - and how perceptive of Inspector Brown. His belief that not only will officers speak to each other via the radio, they'll in time see each other too. Full article attached below. Viv.

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Vivienne14 said:
First police radio cars - and how perceptive of Inspector Brown. His belief that not only will officers speak to each other via the radio, they'll in time see each other too. Full article attached below. Viv.

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Birmingham City was one of the only, if not the only, Forces to use a Duplex VHF radio system. The difference being that transmission and reception were on different frequencies and audio could be heard or interrupted even when transmitting. Much like one would use a telephone.

This changed following the 1974 amalgamations when a Simplex system was introduced that corresponded to those of the surrounding/amalgamated Forces.
 
Hi sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place, but could anyone tell me if there were prison cells in the Hay Mills police station. I was shown around the station in the early 50s and i'm sure there was but my memory is not to good these days, Hope someone can help.
 
If I remember correctly, there may have been a 'holding cell' at Hay Mill, as there was in the converted house at Stechford. Essentially, just a cupboard type room with a steel 'gate'.

The 'cell blocks' at the time were at Acocks Green, Bordesley Green, and Coventry Road (Small Heath).

Hope that helps?
 
Ken_R said:
If I remember correctly, there may have been a 'holding cell' at Hay Mill, as there was in the converted house at Stechford. Essentially, just a cupboard type room with a steel 'gate'.

The 'cell blocks' at the time were at Acocks Green, Bordesley Green, and Coventry Road (Small Heath).

Hope that helps?
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Thanks I think I may be getting mixed up with Acocks Green station because I was shown round there as a kid also.
 
anyone remember Kenneth 'Lewis' wright known as lew - worked out of steelhouse and digbeth i think - 1962 till around 1970
 
Dendy said:
My father was Sergeant Eric Hayward who must have joined up around 1952. I know he was stationed at Acocks Green, Sheldon, Bradford Street, to name a few. Officers I remember from my childhood are: David Speake, "Beefy" Eric Turner, Ken Fisher, Dicky DeBoo, Dave Sadler (dog handler) amongst others. Dad still alive and well at 86 years old having survived a heart attack at 52. Still see Dave Sadler on a regular basis. Would be great to hear from anyone who remembers my dad or anybody else I have mentioned.
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is dave sadler the one living in cornwall?? i think he was a mate of my dads...lew wright
 
my dads in both of these.. cid course at tally ho - and police football team- Kenneth lewis Wright (bottom left cid one and standing at back of footy one)
dad cid.jpg dad football.jpg
 
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Ken_R said:
Birmingham City was one of the only, if not the only, Forces to use a Duplex VHF radio system. The difference being that transmission and reception were on different frequencies and audio could be heard or interrupted even when transmitting. Much like one would use a telephone.

This changed following the 1974 amalgamations when a Simplex system was introduced that corresponded to those of the surrounding/amalgamated Forces.
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i have a few old ex police radios pye.mobile and portable. some simplex somes duplex and mixed in one set (multi channel) 19 a rig check anyone got there ears on
 
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mw0njm. said:
View attachment 131515View attachment 131508
i have a few old ex police radios pye.mobile and portable. some simplex somes duplex and mixed in one set (multi channel) 19 a rig check anyone got there ears on
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mw0njm. said:
View attachment 131515View attachment 131508
i have a few old ex police radios pye.mobile and portable. some simplex somes duplex and mixed in one set (multi channel) 19 a rig check anyone got there ears on
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The radio set pictured looks very similar to the one the speed check Policeman was wearing in 1964 when I got caught speeding on Short Heath Road, presume he was in contact with his colleague in the Austin Gipsey which I flew past.
 
mw0njm. said:
i had a bottle of wiskey off of derrick capper cc. when i was part time in the royal angus hote when he was in a meeting about, .Battle of Saltley Gate i was doing cloak room duties
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Derrick Capper's brother was the vicar of the church where l lived at Banner's Gate Sutton Coldfield and he signed as one of my refeeres to get into Birmingham City Police. I also represented the Mounted Branch at Sir Derrik's funeral service At St Martins Church in the City.joe90
 
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Just spent a fascinating hour reading this thread, thank you to all those that contributed. In particular I have never seen the picture of the police Mini's lined up and also the comments on the police strike. The strike in particular in interesting at the moment and next month will be 100 years as the first officer went out on the 1st August. As stated this was the first and only time the police went on strike and it only lasted a few days. There was however a police strike in London in 1918 but there demands were quickly met so little was heard about it. The WMP museum will be releasing a book to commemorate this event where 120 officers were immediately dismissed. This is one officer more than is quoted normally but we have discovered one initially not listed but found in later police orders. We will be holding a private ceremony with all the families we have managed to trace for descendants of those dismissed on the 2nd August and will have an event/open day at the Lock - Up on Saturday 3rd where we will display some of the material from the book. We will also have a talk on the strike during the evening. Like all of our events (including an open day this Saturday) members can get details from our site WMPeelers.com Once the book has been released I will post a few picture to compliment some of the ones posted on this thread.

Steve R
 
nezbleu said:
is dave sadler the one living in cornwall?? i think he was a mate of my dads...lew wright
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I remember sgt Haywood. He was my sgt when I joined the force in 1973 I was in single men's quarters in Bradford street and my unit was 'D' unit and the watch inspector was INSP Bright my collar number was F171 I have many fond memories of Eric
 
My son recently gave bought me a book 'Cops and Robbers(history of the police car)' by
Ant Anstead, broadcaster,former policeman, Amongst the photos I was thrilled to see one I had seen before a few years ago on a site for Austin motors, it is of my Dad standing next to an A40, a promotional photo when Birmingham police started using the car.
 
Hello all
I mentioned in post 146 that volunteers from the West Midlands police museum will be holding their next open day at the former Lock - Up building in Steelhouse Lane on the 3rd August 2019. This will also be an event that commemorates 100 years since the police strike and we will also be delivering a dedicated talk on the strike during the early evening. For full details of these events log on to WMPeelers.com This is a fascinating piece of history of Birmingham policing. Few people seem aware that 120 officers joined the strike and all were dismissed immediately. We took receipt of the book volunteers wrote to commemorate this today which has some fantastic on the Birmingham Force of 1919 and documents the role of the National Union of Police and Prison Officers (NUPPO). There are pictures of Birmingham officers, stations and much more. visit our shop on the site and also look at the plans we have for the building subject to achieving our funding

Steve R
 
Good Afternoon
I have recently joined this forum and is fascinating. Thanks to all those responses. I'm conducting family history for my late father and was wondering if anyone knew him or his family.
His name is Donald Woodhall and he joined BCP in September 1952 after attending Mill Meece training centre. His Collar No was C222 and was stationed at Dudley Road, Kenyon Street, Ladywood and Thornhill Road. He served with BCP until December 1973, when he left to run a record shop (JO JOs Records) on College Road in Handsworth. He re-joined WMP in October 1975. He latterly was stationed at Belgrave Road, Bournville lane then Lloyd House Process Dept. Collar No was B5395, when he retired in November 1984.
Also what has become of the Mill Meece training centre? I drove past the village a few weeks ago, but couldn't see any trace of the centre.
Thanks in advance
Son Andrew
 
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