Manchester Market Police was a police force in Manchester, England responsible for policing markets owned by Manchester City Council, the principal market of which was Smithfield Market.

History

There had previously been a police force responsible for policing the Market, from the 1860s to c.1900. In 1962, Manchester Corporation re-formed the force with 20 constables, under Chief Inspector Hargreaves (previously a sergeant with the Manchester City Police), and it started operations on 29 January 1962. The force took anyone arrested to the City Police station at Newton Street (now the Greater Manchester Police Museum).[1][2] In 1973/4 the market moved to new premises at the New Smithfield Market in Openshaw.[2]

It is unclear whether members of the force were ever attested as constables, but in 1996 they were "peace officers" with powers to enforce the markets bye-laws made under the Manchester Markets Act 1846. They wore a standard police uniform, with green and white sillitoe tartan rather than dark blue or black, and shoulder badges that read "Market Police".[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ernie Thompson - Market Police". Flickr. Greater Manchester Police. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b Thomason, Carmel (16 November 2018). "Former Chief Inspector, Ernie Thompson shares his memories in new exhibition at The Greater Manchester Police Museum". Quays Life. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. ^ Hannon, Thomas (April 1996). "The changing division of policing labour: with particular emphasis on the policing of shopping centres" (PDF). Middlesex University Research Repository: 277. Retrieved 19 May 2020. Hannon refers to the "Manchester Markets Act 1879", but no act by this name was passed in 1879. There was a Manchester Market Act in 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c.ccxix)
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