Law and order |
||||
until the late 60's the law was very different to that which operates today. Capital punishment was still the norm, there were no drink drive laws, no DNA fingerprinting and very few problems at events such as football matches. The first real crime i can recall in the town happened in i think, the late 50's. A policeman was stabbed to death outside Frames travel agents in Princess square. The towns main police station was situated at the rear of the town hall in Red Lion street, Other police stations included Dunstall road station. |
The way things were back then may surprise the kids of today, for a start the local policeman had the power to administer instant justice, a clip around the ear. A copper could generally be relied upon to be honest above reproach, a common saying in the 50's was "he'd shop his own grandmother". Woe betide anyone who went home and told their parents that they had been "spoken to by a policeman", the odds were you would recieve another clip around the ear or something worse. There was a respect and also a fear of the police that seems lacking today. It was not unusual for the local copper in outlying areas to complete their beat either on a push bike or in some cases on a small motorcycle. |
If any retired officers have a contribution to make, i will gladly publish it. Until the mid 60's the town had its own police force before becoming absorbed into west midland police. Most villages situated around the town had access to police stations in their vicinity, Tettenhall police station was just off the green, in Finchfield there was a police call box situated at the junction of Oak hill. Not the type of police box associated with Dr Who but a pedestal mounted phone enclosed in a small box complete with a blue lamp on top that flashed if the phone rang. |
||
