Shropshire Constabulary

Shropshire Constabulary was the territorial police force responsible for policing rural Shropshire in central England from 1840^[1] until 1967, when it became part of West Mercia Constabulary.^[2]

The Shropshire Constabulary was formed along with borough forces in the towns of Shrewsbury,^[3] Bridgnorth,^[4] Ludlow,^[5] Much Wenlock^[6] and Oswestry.^[7] In the early years they were known as ‘Paddy Mayne’s grasshoppers’ and rabbits because the first Chief Constable was Irish and the constables wore green uniforms.^[8] The headquarters were at 27, Swan Hill, Shrewsbury.

In 1947 the Shropshire Constabulary absorbed Shrewsbury Borough Constabulary. On 1 October 1967 the Shropshire Constabulary was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Constabulary, Herefordshire Constabulary and Worcester City Police to form the West Mercia Constabulary, later the West Mercia Police.

• 1840–1859 : John Dawson Mayne (first Chief Constable of Shropshire)
• 1859–1864 : Captain Philip Henry Crampton
• 1864–1866 : Colonel Edward B. Cureton
• 1866-1889 : Colonel R. J. Edgell
• 1890–1905 : Captain George Williams Freeman
• 1905–1908 : Major Llewellyn William Atcherley (later Sir Llewellyn Acherley)
• 1908–1914 : Captain Gerard Lysley Derriman (killed in action, World War I, 1915)
• 1916–1918 : A. Wood-Acton
• 1918–1935 : Major Jack Becke
• 1935–1946 : Lt Colonel Harold A. Golden
  • 5 February 1946–6 February 1946 : Anthony Tew^[9]
• 1946–1962 : Douglas Osmond (later Sir Douglas Osmond)
• 1962–1967 : Robert George Fenwick
• 1967 : Merged with other forces to form West Mercia Constabulary