Page 31 - Garda Journal Winter 2019

GARDA HISTORY | Belfast Town Police
Committee had powers greater than merely controlling the Watch. They carried out the functions of a local government which we take for granted today. The cost of providing the ‘other’ services of lighting, paving, development of drains etc was so costly that there was no money to provide a watch so initially the board distributed hundreds of handbills, setting out the by-laws and the penalties. For example, shaking carpets after 8am incurred a fine of 2 shillings and 8 pence. However,as there were only two inspectors of nuisances these laws could not be enforced. In fact, one of the inspectors-John Jeffries-was dismissed in December 1806 for taking bribes to influence the Police Committee’s selection of men and horses in its employment and for selling the ‘public dung’ for his own profit.
Complaints from the public about the poor protection afforded led to a brief attempt in 1806 to provide a volunteer watch. Another attempt was made in 1810 and caused the Belfast Newsletter to express the hope that “this society will follow up their measures with energy for when bad men combine it is time for good men to associate and convince these offenders that the law is not dead, thought it may sleep.”
In 1816 a bill was passed in Parliament which altered the rating system in Belfast and made available more money to the Commissioners and this allowed for the establishment of a paid watch. The first Watch consisted of 30 officers and men, but was quickly expanded to 40. 35 night watchmen were paid 8/4 per week or £21.13.4 per year. Four night constables (officers) were paid 11/4 per week or £29.11.6 per year. A head constable was paid 15/6 per week or £40.60 per year. A Superintendent acting as a city magistrate was paid
“of 61 policemen out of a total strength of 165. This was the maximum size of the force.
PAY AND CONDITIONS
The position of watchman or constable, in spite of being exposed to some danger and all sorts of weather was attractive. You were, if you obeyed the rules, assured of continuing employment and for twelve months each year. This was not the norm for a working man. The pay was sufficient to attract recruits. In addition a good uniform was supplied and thus no need for other clothing. I have already referred to the grey greatcoat for the early watch. The day constables were supplied with a blue uniform (based on the London Met) which consisted of a tall stove pipe top hat which was reinforced with whalebone and a tailed coat with brass buttons. In summer, white duck trousers were worn. In 1839 woollen capes were issued for cold weather use. In 1856 oil capes were issued for wet weather use. In 1848 leather collars were issued to help protect the officers necks. They carried a short wooden baton. It is estimated that the free uniform was worth some £11.00 per annum in the 1850’s. There was no regulated sick pay or pensions for the early policemen, so officers were in the hands of their authorities when claims were made. In 1822 Robert Boyce was paid five shillings a week while off suffering from a sprained ankle sustained on duty. This was about half pay. In 1823 Ed Martin
a salary of £200.00 per annum. Duty was performed from 9.00 am until 6.00pm.
The uniform was a long grey overcoat, black belt and a loud rattle. They were armed with a large pike with a hook on the end to be used to catch runaways. These men were to patrol the streets unlike their counterparts in Dublin who were static and housed in boxes unlike sentry boxes. The Officers were to oversee the patrol to ensure that the watchmen were on the move and alert, rather then finding comfortable places to sleep while on duty.
The new watch was hailed as a great success the duties to be carried out were set out in the act, such as:
People throwing dirt, ashes, dung or other offensive articles Emptying privies on to the street
People who obstructed the pavements with baskets, caskets, carts, wagons, building material or by obtrusively displaying meat, fish or other wares for sale which could damage the clothing of a passerby.
People who failed to sweep their pavement before a fixed hour could also be prosecuted.
Wandering swine were to be seized, killed and given to the Belfast Charitable society.
Furious drivers and carters who rode on their carts were to be arrested. Dogs within fifty yards of a public road which had not got a block of wood weighing at least five pounds round its neck led to a 10/= fine on its owner. So you see the enforcement of by-laws was an important part of the duties, but these offences mostly took place in the daytime. This led to the extension of the Watch to cover also a day watch. The extension of the Belfast Borough in 1853 led to an increase in the the size of the force. In 1858 the day force consisted
this society will follow up their measures with energy for when bad men combine it is time for good men
to associate and convince these offenders that the law is not dead, thought it may sleep.”
GARDA JOURNAL 35