Fig 21 Manchester Growth map
Manchester's third expansion 1890
The 1890 Bill 'Local Government Provisional Order (No 16)' directly transferred to the Manchester City Police, the estate, 'lock stock and barrel' within the new boundaries of Crumpsall, Blackley, Newton Health, Clayton, Openshaw, West Gorton and Longsight. Seven police stations in all.
[see Map Police Stations 1890-1897 Map 7]
Fig 23 1890 Bill 'Local Government Provisional Order (No 16)
[see Map Police Stations 1890-1897 Map 7]
Fig 23 1890 Bill 'Local Government Provisional Order (No 16)
Manchester's Third Expansion
Of note within the legislation is that each station is specifically listed (see above) and that specific reference to the 'residences for constables and cells connected therewith, and the fittings and furniture thereof...' is made. Also, the ‘City’ (Manchester) had to pay the ‘County’ (Lancashire) an agreed sum of compensation for the properties -or go to arbitration. Manchester finally paid £7,290. 9s. 7d in 1892.[1] It appears that a lesson was learnt from the transfer problems in the 1885 extension.
For such a significant increase in the policing area a substantial increase in the police establishment was arguably required if the constant of regularly manned beats was to continue. The legislation also guaranteed the pensions and salaries of those Lancashire officers transferred into the Manchester Police. Initially some 150 officers were newly employed including 26 transferred from the Lancashire Constabulary. The establishment rose to 1031.[2]
[See Table 8 - detailing the exact dispersal of offices]
For such a significant increase in the policing area a substantial increase in the police establishment was arguably required if the constant of regularly manned beats was to continue. The legislation also guaranteed the pensions and salaries of those Lancashire officers transferred into the Manchester Police. Initially some 150 officers were newly employed including 26 transferred from the Lancashire Constabulary. The establishment rose to 1031.[2]
[See Table 8 - detailing the exact dispersal of offices]
This change did not come without significant budgetary pressure as overall wage costs increased from £82,123 to £87,856.[3] The WC called for a detailed amalgamation report and analysis with comparable cities – in this case Birmingham and Liverpool – and all exceeded Manchester’s pay rates. The reports were published in 1890 and 1892 and significantly they maintained the founding principle of policing namely, the provision of regular patrol or supervision of the beats.[4]
[See Table 9 Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham Police 1892].
[See Table 9 Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham Police 1892].
Map 6 shows the expanded force’s 20 police stations, including by 1896 the new Bridgewater Street PS (South) were all needed to fulfil the promise of extra police supervision which had been one of the inducements to amalgamation made to the outer districts.
Map 6 Manchester’s Third Expansion 1890 – 1897 All 20 stations.
Map 7 Manchester’s Additional 7 stations 1890-1897.
Map 7 shows each police station that was listed in the 1890 report.[5] The following four police stations included a fire brigade station and accommodation. Harpurhey PS Moston Lane, South Street PS Longsight, Ashton Old Road PS Openshaw, Newton Health PS Oldham Road. The remaining three were just police stations: Clarendon Road PS Crumpsall, Belle Vue Street PS Gorton, Lowe Street PS Miles Platting. There followed an extensive period of repairs and upgrades to the newly acquired stations and existing stations – [see Police Stations / station listings].
So what of the original 1839 promise to maintain a low penny rate in the pound? The cost of policing Manchester had risen over 53 years from 6d to 8.2d in the £1 by 1892. Birmingham cost 7.85d and Liverpool at 9.75d in the £1. Considering the increased prosperity of the town, its increased ratepayer base and having trebled the establishment of officers and stations it could be argued the 2.2d rise was money well spent at that time. The Watch Committee proposed that it would be impossible to afford the same level of protection and special duties that the City of Manchester had become accustomed without this level of expenditure. It was to drop to 6.91d by 1901.[see Statistics / Table 5 ].
However, by 1898 with falling crime rates the new Chief Constable Robert Peacock would be tasked by the WC with a review of the effectiveness of the Manchester police and to reconsider the establishment strength.[6]
[1] Manchester Watch Committee Minutes 14 Jan 1892.
[2] A sergeant and 25 constables joined from Lancashire and there had been a minor increase in establishment in 1886. WCM 18 Sept 1890 and WCM 18 March 1886.
[3] WCM 21 July 1892 within the 1892 Chief Constable's report.
[4] WCM 1 Dec 1892.
[5] WCM 18 Sept 1890.
[6] WCM 4 July 1898.
Map 7 shows each police station that was listed in the 1890 report.[5] The following four police stations included a fire brigade station and accommodation. Harpurhey PS Moston Lane, South Street PS Longsight, Ashton Old Road PS Openshaw, Newton Health PS Oldham Road. The remaining three were just police stations: Clarendon Road PS Crumpsall, Belle Vue Street PS Gorton, Lowe Street PS Miles Platting. There followed an extensive period of repairs and upgrades to the newly acquired stations and existing stations – [see Police Stations / station listings].
So what of the original 1839 promise to maintain a low penny rate in the pound? The cost of policing Manchester had risen over 53 years from 6d to 8.2d in the £1 by 1892. Birmingham cost 7.85d and Liverpool at 9.75d in the £1. Considering the increased prosperity of the town, its increased ratepayer base and having trebled the establishment of officers and stations it could be argued the 2.2d rise was money well spent at that time. The Watch Committee proposed that it would be impossible to afford the same level of protection and special duties that the City of Manchester had become accustomed without this level of expenditure. It was to drop to 6.91d by 1901.[see Statistics / Table 5 ].
However, by 1898 with falling crime rates the new Chief Constable Robert Peacock would be tasked by the WC with a review of the effectiveness of the Manchester police and to reconsider the establishment strength.[6]
[1] Manchester Watch Committee Minutes 14 Jan 1892.
[2] A sergeant and 25 constables joined from Lancashire and there had been a minor increase in establishment in 1886. WCM 18 Sept 1890 and WCM 18 March 1886.
[3] WCM 21 July 1892 within the 1892 Chief Constable's report.
[4] WCM 1 Dec 1892.
[5] WCM 18 Sept 1890.
[6] WCM 4 July 1898.
