Birmingham Parks Police
Birmingham Parks Police was a small police force maintained by Birmingham Corporation to police the parks and open spaces of Birmingham, United Kingdom. They were first formed in 1912 and were disbanded in 1962, when they were replaced with Park Rangers.
History
The parks of Birmingham were, at first, patrolled by
Minutes of the Parks Committee from 1907 suggest that the Committee thought that the levels of policing in the parks were insufficient, and that ordinary park employees were often left to deal with situations themselves. It was reported that:
...the ordinary park employee is ineffective to control certain classes frequenting the parks or recreation grounds, and in many instances is practically set at defiance by the rougher element...
— BCC Parks Committee Minutes, Meeting of 16 July 1907[4]
Birmingham Parks Police was founded in 1912, and went on to patrol the parks until 1962, when they were replaced by Park Rangers. After their creation, the Committee noted that criminal proceedings had been started against several people for "indecent exposure and indecent conduct with young girls in the parks".[5]
As with many occupations, women were first appointed to the Parks Police during
See also
- Law enforcement in the United Kingdom
- List of defunct law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom
References
- Main reference: ConnectingHistories.co.uk: "Birmingham Parks Police Badge"
- ^ Birmingham City Council Parks Committee Minutes, Meeting of 28 February 1881 (BA&H: BCC AL/1/1/7). Worcestershire Quarter Sessions agreed to provide additional forces, but Birmingham Corporation would have to pay for this service.
- ^ 46 & 47 Vict.c. lxx) (c. lxx)
- ^ Birmingham Daily Post, 14 June 1887
- ^ (BA&H: BCC AL/1/1/14)
- ^ BCC Parks Committee Minutes, Meeting of 29 July 1912 (BA&H: BCC 1 BO/1/1/1)
- ^ BCC Parks Committee Minutes, Meeting 5 July 1915 (BA&H: BCC 1 BO/1/1/3)
- ^ BCC Parks Committee Minutes, Meeting of 5 May 1924 (BA&H: BCC 1 BO/1/1/6)