Page 30 - Garda Journal Winter 2019

GARDA HISTORY | Belfast Town Police
Northern Watch:
The Belfast Town
Police 1800-1865
Jim McDonald provides a fascinating insight into the Belfast Town Police, or Bulkies as they were known, who had a short but fractious history. The article also provides an insight into the sectarian tensions which punctuated the decades of the force's existence.
BACKGROUND
I propose to give you a view of Policing in Belfast with a particular look at the Town’s police which existed from 1800-1865.
Looking at the backdrop to policing in Ireland before formal policing was established, the military provided troops to deal with unrest mostly in the rural areas, but also in the towns and cities. In rural areas the baronial constables provided a police service though a very poor one. The larger towns had a watch system which only operated at night. The common factor was the shortage of money to pay for police services. The controlling body in the towns was the local authority who were also responsible for the rating system and, of course, those paying rates did not want to pay more. The other element in policing was the question of control, and those in power, who raised the finance were reluctant to hand over control, e.g., to central government. This question was dealt with in Ireland with the establishment of the Peace Preservation Force of 1814, which was further consolidated in 1836 with the formation of the Irish Constabulary responsible to Central Government.
There was a retained direct link with the old Belfast Watch and Town Police with the provision by the Town Authorities of a grant to the Constabulary for the provision of a Night Hat. This continued until 1970 when the RUC gave up wearing the night hat. The current troubles had started at the end of 1969 and the old city night foot patrols ceased. The car and Landrover were introduced for virtually all patrols and made the wearing of this London Bobby type hat impractical.
THE BELFAST POLICE ACT
Throughout the 18th Century Belfast and its citizens were not well served by the Corporation. The care of the poor had been left to the Charitable Society-Clifton House. The development of trade and the port was undertaken by individual merchants and the Belfast Ballast board and
even the development of fresh water was carried out by the Spring Water Commissioner of the Charitable Society. To counteract the inaction by the Corporation the Dublin Parliament passed the Belfast Police Act. This act related to cleansing and lighting and improving the several streets, squares, lanes and passages within the town of Belfast and for removing and preventing all encroachments, obstructions and annoyances therein and also for the establishment and maintaining a nightly watch throughout. The act further stated that the Watch should be responsible for protecting the persons and property of all His Majesty’s subjects- from fires, thefts, burglaries, assaults, violences and other outrages and injuries during the night.
This act established a police board consisting of two parts. The Sovereign and the burghers appointed by the Marquis of Donegall were ex officio commissioners-for life. Twelve Commissioners elected by £1 parish ratepayers were elected for life. The Police Committee of 9 and 21 were elected annually at the Parish Vestry of Belfast by the £1 ratepayers. As can be seen from the Police Act the Commissioners and
GARDA JOURNAL 33