Special Constables

George Turnbull records in his book The Isle of Man Constabulary that in 1822 the first ‘Specials’ were sworn in to deal with riots in Peel and in Douglas.

In 1868 a Special Force of 160 men was formed to be available to deal with emergencies but the immediate risk of rioting passed and little is recorded of their service. Each Special Constable was sworn in for a two month period which could be extended.

The Specials came into their own in 1904 for the Gordon Bennet Trials of that year and were appointed for duty around the course which extended from Castletown to Ramsey. The whole Force and many specials were required to patrol the first TT motorcycle races in 1907.

During the First World War a volunteer force called The Loyal Manx was formed of able-bodied men who were unable to join up for active service. The men were civilians ranging from lawyers to every kind of labourer. Their duties included guarding Government Offices and escorting prisoners between the piers and Prisoner of War Camps. All duty was unpaid and voluntary.

The Force was disbanded in 1918 but raised again for the Second World War as the Loyal Manx (Special Police). Their rank structure and uniform was almost identical to the regular police and remained so until recently.

The present Commandant of the Isle of Man Special Constabulary is John Higginbotham. For more information, go to their website www.iomspecials.com.

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 photos reproduced by kind permission of Manx National Heritage. Chief Constable photo courtesy of Isle of Man Constabulary.