The City Police

Information provided by Nik Pringle, author of 150 years policing in Watford District and Hertfordshire County.

The St Albans police force was founded in 1836, and in 1860 the police station (above) was built behind the Town Hall. It continued as a separate police force from the Hertfordshire police until 1947. Initially virtually all the farms would have come under the Hertfordshire police, but the boundary change in 1879 meant that all or part of some of the farms now fell within the new city boundary. For instance Heath Farm House was now in the St Albans police force area, while most of the fields came under the county police.

Commanding Officers of the St Albans Police Force

1836-1837 Supt. Alexander WILSON
1837-1858 Supt. Joseph DOUGLAS
1858-1883 Supt. James PIKE
1883-1889 Supt. Abraham PELLANT
1889-1893 Supt. Jacob WOOD
Sgt. John KENDALL Acted Supt. for approx. 3 months
1893-1901 Supt. Arthur BLATCH
Sgt. John PIKE Acted Supt. For approx.2 months
1901-1905 H/Cons. William SMITH
1905-1916 H/Cons. George WHITBREAD
1916-1918 Force under temp. command of county
Sgt. Frank PECK Acted Supt. for approx. 6 months
1919-1929 C/Cons. John HARRISON
1929-1933 C/Cons. Nelson ASHTON
1934-1947 C/Cons. Herbert THORPE

The commanding officers at the time the Stratton family were operating were Superintendents Douglas, Pike and Pellant