Truncheon with the St Albans coat of arms, 19th century.

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

Truncheon with the St Albans coat of arms, 19th century. In 1828 The Metropolitan Police force was set up in London by Sir Robert Peel, and proved so successful that Parliament passed a law in 1835 requiring 178 boroughs to set up their own service. The St Albans Borough Police was established in 1836. It consisted of a superintendent, Alexander Wilson, constables and a beadle. A single story police station (now a shop) was built behind the Town Hall. The policemen carried handcuffs, a rattle and later a whistle while they were on patrol, and a bull's-eye lantern at night. They were usually armed with truncheons, although they were sometimes issued with cutlasses, or in exceptional circumstances, revolvers.

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Digital Camera

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