14 - the effectiveness of merthyr’s police force

History

What was the size of Merthyr’s police force compared to the town’s population?

A force of just 13 men was responsible for maintaining law and order in a town with over 46,000 people.

What were the two main challenges faced by Merthyr’s early police force?

1) Recruiting suitable men with the required skills.
2) Retaining good constables, as they could earn higher wages in the ironworks.

What qualifications were required to become a police constable in Merthyr?

Constables needed honesty, sobriety, a sound constitution, knowledge of Welsh, the ability to keep accounts, and literacy skills.

Why were ‘China’ and ‘Pontstorehouse’ initially not patrolled by constables?

Superintendent Davies recognized the difficulty of establishing a presence in these lawless areas, so they were excluded from early patrols.

How did the police deal with crime in ‘China’ and ‘Pontstorehouse’?

Two constables patrolled the adjacent beats at night, and when necessary, the entire police force entered together, led by the Superintendent.

How did policing in Merthyr evolve during the 1840s and 1850s?

The police continued efforts to enforce law and order, gradually expanding their patrols to cover the whole town by the 1850s.

When was a single constable able to patrol the ‘China’ district?

It was only at the end of the 19th century that one constable could patrol ‘China’ alone.

When was the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police Force officially established?

The force was officially established in September 1908.