Police History

Chief Constable Major John William Young 1936-1954

Major Young was appointed on 19th September 1936 and it was under his command that the first Motor Patrol Section commenced to deal with the increasing amount of traffic and road accidents.

From 1937 he implemented structured training of recruits where previously training had been through individual instruction by a senior officer. The first five officers from the Isle of Man were sent to Stanley Grange, Hoghton, near Preston, in November 1937 for a 14-week training course.

He also insisted all police officers – serving on an island surrounded by water – should be able to swim and practically the whole force was given swimming lessons. As war looked more likely, air raid precautions were undertaken by officers and the Force was also responsible for enforcing a complete black-out during the Second World War (1939-1945).

In 1945, the Island welcomed King George VI and Queen Elizabeth who toured the Island and presided at Tynwald Hill on Tynwald Fair Day.

In the post-war period, the force underwent a period of reorganisation including expanding the Criminal Investigation Department started in 1938, and introduction of the Photographic Section.

Low pay and poor conditions of service continued to hamper retention of police officers and in 1947 a pay increase for all ranks was implemented along with the establishment of an Island Police Federation to look after the interests of all ranks up to Inspector. Pay was increased again in 1949 and since then any rise in pay or allowances granted to English police forces has been mirrored in the Isle of Man Constabulary.

Crime recorded between 1949 and 1953 reached exceptionally high levels although the police were said to have acquitted themselves well despite being undermanned, making even greater use of new technology including photography, finger-printing and scientific aids.

Following Chief Constable Major Young’s death in London, Superintendent Alfred Kelly was appointed Acting Chief Constable. Superintendent Kelly received the MBE some years later for services to the Island.

Information up to the 1980s reproduced from the book Isle of Man Constabulary by George Turnbull, by kind permission of the publishers, Mansk-Svenska Publishing Company Limited, of Peel, Isle of Man.

The Department of Home Affairs also gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Manx National Heritage. Old photo reproduced by kind permission of Mansk-Svenska Publishing Company Limited. Chief Constable photo courtesy of Isle of Man Constabulary.