Memorials against the Police

A memorial was presented from the united parishes of Stapleford Tawney and Theydon Mount, agreed to in vestry, stating that although the police had made a considerable addition to the burdens laid on them, it had not answered the purpose for which it was instituted within the parish, as the number of depredations during the night had increased rather than diminished since it institution. It seemed to them impossible to prevent such depredations in retired villages without an increase of expense too great to be borne by rural parishes. The petitioners considered themselves by the act of parliament entitled to a strict equality of taxation for the rural police within the towns and larger villages, whereas, in reality, the burthen of this force fell most unequally upon the portions of the county that were agricultural, the towns and larger villages having nearly all the benefit from the police. They therefore prayed the Justices in Quarter Session to take into their serious consideration whether it is not expedient forthwith to report it as their opinion to the Secretary of State that the rural police force is unnecessary, and should be discontinued in this county.

Chelmsford Chronicle 7th January 1842.

Editor’s Note:
The Essex County Constabulary had been formed in 1840, and from the outset there were a number of petitions to the Essex Quarter Sessions as to the cost of providing a police force which fell to the rate payers of the County, and asking that the old system be re-introduced.