Police History

Early 19th century

By the early 1800s, crime was so prevalent and the police so regularly unable to catch the culprits, that a group of prominent citizens formed their own organisation offering 20 guineas to informants on the conviction of offenders who were stealing from their warehouses.

Greater prosperity began to smarten up Douglas. Better houses were built and Duke Street and Sand (now Strand) Street were paved. By 1829 oil lamps lighted various streets in the town. Constables were paid bonuses for additional duties such as executing arrest warrants, conveying a person to jail and confining a jury until they agreed upon a verdict. They also received travel allowances to supplement the pittance paid to them by Government.

By 1829, the Members of the House of Keys were fully aware of the need for better regulation and a more efficient police force. However, they required greater funding from His Majesty’s Government and requested Governor Smelt to lay the matter before the Secretary of State for consideration.

The matter was raised again in 1830 but a Bill to increase remuneration to police officers and High Bailiffs failed. Burglaries and violence went unchecked until the establishment of the Douglas Police Committee on 6th November 1833.

Thomas Cleator was appointed Superintendent with Constables John Hackman, Moses Hennedy and Thomas Christian. Their pay was 10 shillings per week and their base was a room just inside the entrance to the Court House. They also were provided with a uniform consisting of a navy blue top-coat of pilot cloth, a leather top hat and a belt. A petition was put before Government to provide for a rate to be levied on the town and parish to pay for the police. However, donations ran out on 1st October 1834 and the ‘New Police’ were abandoned.

The following year ‘terrible happenings in the streets, particularly at nights’ resulted in a further meeting which resolved that Government be approached with a view to establishing a proper police force. The result was the Justices Act of 1836 which enabled the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a sufficient number of fit and able men to be sworn in and act as constables for preserving the peace, preventing robberies and other felonies and apprehending offenders.

Thomas Cleator continued for a short time as Chief Constable of Douglas and in the other towns Chief Constables were again appointed. Salaries had increased to £25 per year for Chief Constables and £10 per year for Constables – which still made it necessary for them to have another trade or work in order to obtain a living wage.

By 1841 letters and articles in the Mona’s Herald were calling for strong measures and highlighting the ineffectiveness of the police. The Douglas Association for the Prosecution of Felons was formed – the last time law enforcers were paid for by public subscription. Police appointed by the Association included PCs Dinwoody and Kirby, under the direction of Inspector Walter Bellion, who remained as Inspector until 1851 under the Head of Police, the High Bailiff.