The 1890 Amalgamation Reports
The increase of the city boundaries in 1890 included the districts of Blackley, Clayton, Crumpsall, Moston, Newton Health, Openshaw and West Gorton. It had a significant impact on the Manchester police, not merely in assessing the necessary increase in establishment but the effects on the morale, pay and working conditions of officers.
Manchester police officers were not ignorant of pay and conditions in adjoining or comparable forces. Communication existed between them not least through publication such as the Police Service Advertiser from 1866, Police Guardian from 1872 and eventually the weekly newspaper Police Review and Parade Gossip. This paper was first published in January 1893 after a John Kempster provided £500 to assist police officers ‘to air their grievances and improve standards of education and training’.[1] It was instrumental in the officers obtaining a weekly rest day in 1910 and establishing the Police Federation by 1919.
In March and July 1890 the divisional representatives of the Manchester police petitioned the Watch Committee on their pay and pensions related to their duties. Their appeal to the WC, (edited and summarised below) highlights on-going social issues.
Manchester police officers were not ignorant of pay and conditions in adjoining or comparable forces. Communication existed between them not least through publication such as the Police Service Advertiser from 1866, Police Guardian from 1872 and eventually the weekly newspaper Police Review and Parade Gossip. This paper was first published in January 1893 after a John Kempster provided £500 to assist police officers ‘to air their grievances and improve standards of education and training’.[1] It was instrumental in the officers obtaining a weekly rest day in 1910 and establishing the Police Federation by 1919.
In March and July 1890 the divisional representatives of the Manchester police petitioned the Watch Committee on their pay and pensions related to their duties. Their appeal to the WC, (edited and summarised below) highlights on-going social issues.
The Liverpool, Birmingham and the County of Lancashire forces exceeded Manchester pay.
Reasons for their ‘energies being taxed and their efficiency tested’ were:
Royal Visits by Prince and Princess of Wales, Royal Jubilee Exhibition, Shah of Persia, Duke of Cambridge.
Agitation of the unemployed, - Gas Workers strike (1889).
General prosperity of trade and workers increase in pay.
No connection with any labour organisation [i.e No Trade Unions].
Increase in house rent, fuel and other necessities.
By July 1890 a petition signed by 738 Manchester police officers (84 per cent of the 874 total strength) was handed to the WC. It revealed their feelings as to their arduous working conditions, but overall their sense of professionalism.[2]
Manchester City Police conditions are as arduous as the Metropolitan Police [London] and mortality is much higher.
Members after 25 years appropriate service, as a rule were no longer capable of performing active service, especially in a large city.
Manchester City Police are as an efficient a body (and deserving) as the Metropolitan Police.[2]
On the 5 June 1890 Chief Constable Malcolm Wood reported on the new amalgamation and highlighted the discrepancies on pay and pensions with the Lancashire force. It was commented by the WC that due to the differing rates of pay and conditions it would ‘not be acceptable to have two rates of pay. [Lancashire] Constables could be given compensation as to their length of service’.[3]
Following the second petition an amalgamation report was submitted by the WC on the 31 July 1890.
Following the second petition an amalgamation report was submitted by the WC on the 31 July 1890.
The City Extension Bill 1 Nov 1890 will entail the following changes:-
Remember when in 1885 Bradford, Harpurhey and Rusholme the Superintendents thought an increase of 98 men best, the Chief Constable thought 40 and the W.C thought 30 officers to take the place of 26 officers left by the County. The establishment rose from 846 to 876.
It is not possible now to work the districts, with a constant complaint from Bradford and Rusholme [residents]. Bradford is notorious for scuttling, this after an additional 18 officers from the City.
Increased work in the Courts leads to 6 men taken away reducing the strength with the doubling and extending of beats. Extra officers required for the new third court and a Coroner’s Inspector. Two extra prisons vans are required.
No new division is required, only to add such portions of the new districts as naturally fall to the existing divisions.
County officers work nine hours a day and the Inspectors do not work continuously. They convey prisoners on foot not vans.
Requirement for 15 men adding to existing 24 detectives.
Overall request for 229 men.
On the 18 September 1890 the Chief Constable provided a detailed breakdown by rank and number, the increase in establishment required for each division including the E Division (Detective Office and Courts). It was broken down by township, acreage, population and rateable assessment. He concluded he required an additional 150 officers. Once more the size of the establishment was assessed against the scale, density and monetary return of its population. Significantly no mention of prevailing crime figures was made.
[see Table 8 Chief Constable’s report Manchester City Extension 1890]
Table 8 Chief Constable’s Report into the Manchester City Extension 1890
The WC authorised 150 new officers which included 26 officers from Lancashire. A third officers’ petition followed in May 1891 with an ‘earnest appeal’ by the inspectors, sergeants and constables of the force for an increase in pay.[4] This time their concerns were addressed and the WC provided the following increase in pay (shown in shillings (s.)).
The WC authorised 150 new officers which included 26 officers from Lancashire. A third officers’ petition followed in May 1891 with an ‘earnest appeal’ by the inspectors, sergeants and constables of the force for an increase in pay.[4] This time their concerns were addressed and the WC provided the following increase in pay (shown in shillings (s.)).
Appeal: W.C. approved:
Inspectors: 46s – 54s a week [£2.30 - £2.70] 43s – 50s
Sergeants: 36s – 40s a week [£1.80 - £2.00] 33s – 40s
Constables: 24s – 31s a week [£1.20 - £1.55] over 1-12 years the amount over only 1-10 years.
This increase in pay resulted in overall pay increasing from £82,123 to £87,856.[5] The WC called for a second detailed amalgamation report and analysis with comparable cities – in this case Birmingham Liverpool and Lancashire, all those stated that exceeded Manchester’s pay rates.
[See Table 9 Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham Police 1892].
The report was published on the 1st December 1892 and the findings maintained the founding principle of Victorian policing namely the regular patrol or supervision of the beats.[6]
[See Table 9 Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham Police 1892].
The report was published on the 1st December 1892 and the findings maintained the founding principle of Victorian policing namely the regular patrol or supervision of the beats.[6]
[1] Police Review 25 Nov 2011. An extensive archive of Police Review and Police Review and Parade Gossip exists in the Greater Manchester Police Museum and Archive from 1910 to the last edition dated 25 Nov 2011.
[2] Manchester Watch Committee Minutes 24 July 1890.
[3] WCM 19 June 1890.
[4] WCM 7 May 1891.
[5] WCM 21 July 1892 within the 1892 Chief Constable's report.
[6] WCM 1 Dec 1892.
[2] Manchester Watch Committee Minutes 24 July 1890.
[3] WCM 19 June 1890.
[4] WCM 7 May 1891.
[5] WCM 21 July 1892 within the 1892 Chief Constable's report.
[6] WCM 1 Dec 1892.
