In the autumn of 1856, the Court of Quarter Sessions set up a
special committee of Justices to advise on the application of the
County and Borough Police Act 1856.
The Justices were now obliged to establish a paid police force
for the whole of each county.
The first full Cheshire Police committee met at the Crewe Arms
Hotel, Crewe, on 3rd February 1857 under the chairmanship of Mr.
The first Chief Constable was Captain Thomas Jonnes Smith.
Cheshire Constabulary was officially formed on 20th April 1857.
Headquarters - from Chester to Winsford
1857: Cheshire Constabulary’s first
headquarters were established at 4 Seller Street, Chester
1862: Headquarters moves to 1 Egerton Street,
1870: Headquarters moves to 113 Foregate
1893: A new headquarters was built at 142
Foregate Street, Chester, on the site of an 11th century
1967: A new headquarters was built on Nuns
Road, Chester (built between 1964 and 1967)
2003: Bigger premises were needed, with a
purpose-built building at Clemonds Hey, Winsford.
Key points in Cheshire Constabulary’s history
1934-35 - A.F.Horden -
1934 - The first Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) was set up at HQ.
1934 - Radios introduced to allow officers
to communicate whilst on duty.
1935 - Police driving school
opened at Hendon
Cheshire driving instructors were trained at Hendon before the
opening of the Cheshire school.
The Chief expanded the photographic department, spending £120 on
new equipment and established a processing department in an
outbuilding at Hartford. Four receiving and transmitting sets
purchased for patrol cars, in addition to a small wireless van.
1935 - Express
The Chief, to improve communications nationally, was largely
responsible for implementing the first version of a police
messaging service called Express Message.
Northwich Safe Robbery
The new Express Message scheme helped solve an otherwise
ordinary robbery. A bookmaker returned home to find his safe,
containing £7,500 in notes and bags containing £150 in silver and
copper, missing. The robbery was reported at Northwich Police
Station. The particulars of the notes were ascertained and
distributed to 147 Police HQs in England and Wales and newspapers
in London and Manchester using the scheme.
The publicity led to the first break. Six days later the safe
was recovered in Denbighshire. An informer gave the name William
Parkinson, who was arrested. Forensic science was used to examine
the house and safe which resulted in arrests. All but £200 of the
stolen money was recovered. The case provided Captain Horden with a
practical demonstration of the new communication system and
1935-46 - Sir J. Becke - Major
1935 - Cheshire Constabulary established a
new recruit training
school in Crewe.
1936 - Forensic Science Laboratory
established at HQ, housed in a wooden hut.
1937 - 760 members of the Constabulary. In
September the Home Office selected Cheshire to pilot a special
scheme to reduce road accidents, overseen by racing driver Lord
In February the Constabulary driving school opened at Hoole
Police Station, Chester. Police drivers were trained in the
Lagonda, which, when first purchased, reached speeds of 130mph.
1939 - The Constabulary established its
first divisional accident officers.
1939 - Start of Second World War
During the war 254 constables and 13 cadets served in the
forces. At this time Cheshire Police had responsibility for 14,000
1940 - The Chief arranged for cinema
slides to be shown throughout the county in an effort to
reduce accidents during black–out.
The first air raid in Cheshire took place on the evening of July
29th in Crewe.
1944 - Cheshire appoints its first police
women; 26 years after recruitment began nationally. Twelve WPCs
were employed, Gertrude Jones is believed to be one of the
1946-63 - G.E. Banwell
1947 - Congleton, Hyde, Macclesfield, and
Stalybridge merged with Cheshire Constabulary.
1948 - Chester did not amalgamate
voluntarily, the Secretary of State held a public enquiry. Cheshire
now had 1,016 policemen plus 34 policewomen.
1949 - Chester City Police was forced to
amalgamate into Cheshire Constabulary.
1950 - Steps were taken towards creating
Cheshire’s own police dog unit.
1955 - Ruth Ellis is the last woman
executed in the UK.
1961 - Introduction of traffic
1963 - The Moors Murderers
Take their first victim on July 12th.
1963-74 - H. Watson
1964 - Police Authority changed to
1964 - Introduction of motorcycle
1965 - The Moors Murderers
Ian Brady and Myra Hindley arrested for Moors Murders on October
7th after intense investigation by Cheshire Police. Cheshire
officers led the search of Saddleworth Moor for their victim’s
bodies. The death penalty abolished on November 8th.
1966 - The Moors Murderers
Moors murderers Brady and Hindley were tried at Chester Assizes in
April. They stood accused of three murders. They were both found
guilty. This concluded a prolonged and intensive investigation by
1967 - Plane Crash
On June 4th, a British Midland flight packed with
holidaymakers returning from Palma, Majorca, crashed in the centre
of Stockport, killing 72 people. Twelve passengers survived the
crash. The investigation into the crash was conducted by Cheshire
Road Safety Act introduced the breathalyser. The introduction of
panda cars in Cheshire.
Cheshire Constabulary moves to a new HQ in Chester.
1967/1968 - Foot and mouth hits Cheshire.
The role of the police in Cheshire included implementing strict
controls to limit the spread of the disease.
1968 - Criminal Intelligence. Bureau set
up at Cheshire HQ.
1972 - M53 opened.
1974 - Police National Computer system
1974-77 - W. Kelsall
1974 - Officer Kidnapped
A Cheshire Police officer was kidnapped whilst on duty responding
to an emergency call. PC3213 Wright, accompanied by a detective,
approached a man acting suspiciously who drew a gun and took PC
1976 - Multi-channel helmets for motorcyclists were
The helmets allowed officers to use radio whilst riding on patrol.
Cheshire had the first computerised intelligence system in the
1977 - Shooting of Billy Hughes
Cheshire Police marksmen shoot William “Billy” Hughes. Hughes was
in prison facing charges of rape and GBH. He escaped custody whilst
on route to court. In his escape he stabbed one of the officers
escorting him to court and made his escape. He took a family
hostage for three days at a remote cottage, isolating each
individual so none knew of the others’ fate.
The mother was the only member Hughes kept alive and he used her
as a hostage to escape from the police who surrounded the cottage
on January 14th. Following a drive across several counties, Hughes
was apprehended in Rainow, Macclesfield, by Cheshire
Police. A police inquiry ruled that the shooting of Hughes by
Cheshire officers was justifiable homicide.
1977-84 - G.E. Fenn
1978 - The Constabulary’s vehicle
fleet was expanded following a significant purchase of new Rover
1979 - As communication became vital in
investigative and patrol duties, the importance of radios
increased. In total, Cheshire now had 730 personal radios in
1982 - Two hundred and thirty-six miles of
motorway were patrolled by Cheshire’s officers, one of the busiest
road networks in the country.
1983 - Messenger Dispute
An industrial dispute rocked Eddie Shah’s Messenger Newspapers
group plant at Warrington. Shah decided to print his new Today
newspaper without the unions agreement and employed unqualified
printers, prompting violent strike busting protests and street
fighting. His own house was fire–bombed on several occasions.
Officers were once again called upon to police a major trade union
1984 - Lindow Man
A mummified body was dug up on a site in Cheshire, creating a
murder mystery. Lindow man is believed to be more than 1,500 years
old. It is thought the body is a 25-year-old wealthy man. He died
from a blow to the head, had been garotted and his throat cut.
Cheshire officers were involved in the excavation of the site.
1984-93 - D.J. Graham
1985 - A new digital telephone network was
installed at Cheshire Police HQ, enhancing public contact with
1985 - On April 1st a state of the art
control room was opened at HQ.
1989 - Improved forensic laboratory
Further advancements in forensic science prompted Cheshire to
purchase a Quasar machine. Quasar illuminated fingerprints in a
fluorescent glow so photos could be taken with specialist
1991 - A 29-year-old masseuse, Lynn
Trenholm, was found dead at Pinky’s massage parlour, Boughton,
Chester. Despite concentrated efforts by Cheshire detectives this
murder remains unsolved.
1993 - Cheshire terrorist attacks
On Thursday, February 25th, during a routine stop check on a
van, PC Mark Toker was shot in the leg and lower back by one of
three men. Fifty minutes later at a location in Lymm, a motorist
was kidnapped at gunpoint by three men who stole his car. Following
a police pursuit the car crashed on the Cheshire border. Three
arrests were made.
Shortly after 4am the same night the county was rocked by a huge
explosion at the gas depot in Warrington. For the first time
Cheshire officers were dealing with a terrorist incident. Saturday,
March 20th, brought Cheshire’s second terrorist attack. Bridge
Street, Warrington, was packed with people shopping for
Mothering Sunday. At lunch time two explosions occurred outside
Boots the Chemist, injuring 56 shoppers and killing two children –
Tim Parry and Jonathan Ball.
Cheshire Police’s investigation involved more than 450 different
lines of enquiry and included sightings of people, vehicles and an
enormous amount of intelligence. The enquiry encompassed the local
community in Warrington, counter terrorism experts in London and
intelligence from Ireland.
1993-97- J.M. Jones
1994 - Constabulary purchased an Islander
light aircraft, to assist operational policing and in search and
1996 - A major fire broke out in Brookvale
Comprehensive School, Murdishaw, Runcorn, in May. The incident
involved all of the emergency services. Cheshire Police’s Air
Support Unit played a significant role as it relayed information on
the hottest areas of the blaze so firefighters could target the
worst areas to restrict damage.
Middlewich Helicopter Crash
On the night of October 22nd a helicopter crashes near
killing all five people inside including Chelsea football club
vice-chairman, Matthew Harding.
Cheshire police investigated the incident collating evidence to
support the Coroner’s inquest.
1997 - Operation Fulcrum
Environmentalists who opposed the construction of the second runway
at Manchester Airport build and move into tree houses, burrows and
tepees. Cheshire police had a support role during the protest and
had to remain impartial, preserving the right to freedom of speech
and the right of workers to go about their lawful business.
1997-2002 - N.K. Burgess
1998 - Two murders shock Cheshire Teenager
Claire Hart was abducted and strangled on her way to school in
Congleton and Northwich mum Julia Webb was battered to death as she
walked her dog. The investigation into Claire’s murder successfully
concluded with the arrest of a man who was charged and found guilty
of Claire’s murder. Officers are still working on the unsolved
murder of Julia Webb.
1999 - Winsford Train Crash
More than 30 people are injured when a Virgin train collided with a
First North Western Pacer train on June 23rd at Winsford. Train
driver Roy Eccles was hailed a hero for averting a major
In December, the first in a series of letter bombs was sent to a
company in Yorkshire. Glynn Harding an animal rights activist from
Crewe continued sending explosive devices into February 2000.
Three people were injured by the first three parcels, but
Cheshire Police were able to prevent more casualties by
implementing a new system of investigation.
2000 - Petrol dispute
Petrol stocks ran low as farmers and hauliers blockaded refineries
in protest against price rises. Shell’s Stanlow Refinery was at the
centre of the dispute and the world’s media attention was focused
on the dispute in Cheshire. Officers found themselves policing a
national dispute. Cheshire Police beat more than 300 entries to the
Law & Order Magazine’s Best International Police Vehicle Design
Award. The new livery incorporated the website address and new
state-of-the-art reflective markings.
2001 - An outbreak of foot and mouth
caused a crisis in dairy farms across Cheshire.
2002 - Airwave, a new police communication
system, was introduced, replacing the old analogue radios.
2002-2008 - P. Fahy
2003 - A firearms amnesty was launched
nationally, clearing thousands of guns off the streets, with 717
firearms and 7,500 rounds of ammunition were handed to police in
2003/2004 - Cheshire committed officers to
assist in training overseas. PC Jim Reid was sent on international
duty to the Iraqi war zone to train Iraqi police. Cheshire officers
were also involved in identifying the dead in the wake of the Asian
tsunami. Almost 300,000 people were killed across the 11 countries
2004 - Police enter partnership at new
Cheshire Constabulary’s new headquarters opened in Winsford.
Under a Government scheme the HQ was to be managed by a private
sector company. The new building combined the control rooms from
around the county, delivering an improved service for both
emergency and non–emergency callers.
2005 - Taking Control
A major reorganisation of the Constabulary introduced a new
policing model and combined the six policing divisions into three
areas, Northern, Eastern and Western.
Neighbourhood policing spear-headed the Constabulary’s policing
approach, giving local police officers accountability.
Terrorist bombs brought London to a stand still on July 7th,
with 52 people killed and more than 700 injured by the blasts. The
G8 Summit took place at Gleneagles, Scotland, from July 6th –
8th. Many of the world’s most influential leaders attended to
discuss world issues. Cheshire police officers helped to police the
event and control protestors.
2006 - Centralised Custody
Three custom-built ultra modern custody suites were opened in
Runcorn, Chester and Middlewich.
2007 - On Thursday, January 18th, severe
gales hit the UK. In Cheshire, the extreme weather prompted
the declaration of the first county-wide major incident involving
all emergency services. By the time the winds had calmed, two
people in the Force area had lost their lives.