Police told to brush up local knowledge

CRIME prevention in Wells was formalised in 1846 by the “Rules, Orders and Regulations framed by the Watch Committee of the Borough of Wells for the Guidance of the Sergeant and Police”.

It states that the police sergeant should be “firm and just and at the same time kind and conciliating. He should direct his men in the performance of their duties and watch them with assiduous care and vigilance at all hours.”

The sergeant’s pay was 20s per week and each year he would be issued with “One Uniform Coat, Two Pairs of Trousers, One Hat, One Neck Cloth, One Great Coat and One Cape”.

A policeman in Wells “should devote his whole time to the Police Service, shall always appear in complete uniform and will be liable for dismissal for unfitness, negligence or misconduct”.

There were three constables under the direction of the sergeant, one to be on duty by day and two by night. The day watch began at 6am and ended at 7pm, the night watch started at 7pm and ended at 6am.

Wells was divided into two beats roughly to the east and west of Sadler Street. The day constable “will perambulate all parts of the town and call at the Police Station (which was based at the Town Hall) once at least in every hour”.

One night constable would cover one beat while the other would remain at the station or not go farther than the Market

Place. Each hour they would exchange duties so that the people of Wells would know where to find a policeman at any hour of the day or night.

A constable was paid 14s a week and each year would be issued with “One Blue Coat, One Pair of Trousers, One Hat, One Stock and when required One Great Coat, One Cape, One Armlet and One Pair of White Trousers”.

There were certain strictures in place on the behaviour of the constables:

“A constable will be civil and attentive to persons of every rank and class and:

“Insolence and incivility will not be overlooked. He is particularly desired not to enter into conversation with female servants or other women on duty, or to walk or converse with his comrade. He is merely to exchange a word and pass on. A constable is to remember that no qualification is more indispensable to a Police Officer than a perfect command of temper.”

The constable was also required to: “Make himself perfectly acquainted with all the streets, thoroughfares, courts and houses on his beat and he will be expected to possess knowledge of the inhabitants of each house as to be able to recognise their person.”

There are references to the constable apprehending “all loose, idle and disorderly persons disturbing the public peace” and he was able to stop and examine “any person carrying a bundle or goods which he suspects are stolen or contain:

“Any pick-lock, key, crowbar, jack or any other instrument with felonious intent: or any person armed with any gun, pistol, short sword, cutlass, bludgeon or offensive weapon or any person with an unlawful purpose in any dwelling house, warehouse, coach house, outhouse, stable, enclosed yard, garden or area.”

Constables also had to enforce the law against “common prostitutes behaving in a riotous or indecent manner, against beggars and those who encourage children to beg, against those lodging in any outhouse, barn or unoccupied building or the open air or under a tent or in any cart or waggon not having any visible means of support, against those endeavouring by exposure of wounds or deformities to obtain alms, against those loitering with intent to gamble and against those exposing to view any obscene print or exhibition or exposing his person with intent to assault any female”.

Particular attention was to be paid to the 29 alehouses and hotels (as listed in 1840 in Braggs’ Directory) on a Sunday, Christmas Day and Good Friday; “to ensure due order and decorum and that no beer or other excisable liquor may not be drunk or conveyed from the premises although they may be open for the reception of travellers.”

These places “will require the most vigilant attention of the Police. The owners of these houses are forbidden to permit drunkenness, disorderly conduct or gaming or persons of bad character and theses houses are to be closed at the hours appointed by law.”

The Watch Committee Rules and Regulations stated that “The absence of crime will be the best proof of this report’s efficiency.”