Police History

Chief Constable Christopher Charles Beatty-Pownall 1955-72

Soon after Mr Beatty-Pownall’s appointment the Island welcomed a visit from HM Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Philip. Arrangements for crowd and traffic control so stretched the local police that Lancashire County Constabulary was asked to assist with 100 officers to support the Manx police and Special Police.

From 1957 the Force used radio telephones to enable patrol cars to keep in contact with officers, initially just Douglas-based cars but it was soon extended to the whole Island.

The distinctive white helmets were introduced in 1960 for summer months and special occasions as directed by the Chief Constable or his Deputy, a move welcomed by the Isle of Man Tourist Board.

Around this time, an Isle of Man Constitutional Commission chaired by Lord McDermott recommended the formation of a Police Board of Tynwald, from which came The Police (Isle of Man) Act 1962 – the first legislation dealing exclusively with the police, 99 years after the re-organisation of the Force in 1863 and 186 years after the word ‘police’ was first used in the Island.

In December 1962 the first police dog Rex was recruited, followed by Rolfe and Russ.

Women Police had been used during the 1914-18 war and their return in 1967 was welcomed. WPC Margaret E. Corkill, previously a civilian clerical officer at Ramsey Police Station, was the first to be recruited.

Mr Beatty-Pownall retired early in 1972 and received a farewell parade of the entire Constabulary and Special Constabulary at the Villa Marina, Douglas.

Information up to the 1980s and WPC photo (left) 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 (above right) reproduced by kind permission of Manx National Heritage. Chief Constable photo courtesy of Isle of Man Constabulary.