1957 Rochdale Police centenary parade

1957 Rochdale Police centenary parade

Officers of Rochdale Borough Police march through the town on 14 April 1957 to celebrate the force’s centenary.

Services were held at two local churches after which the officers marched to Rochdale Town Hall where Councillor J.S. Stoney, Chairman of the Watch Committee, took a formal salute.

The band marched to music provided by the Liverpool City Police Band, which was on loan to the Rochdale force for the occasion.

Rochdale Borough Police began life on the 28 February 1857, one year after the County and Borough Police Act of 1856 made the provision of a police service compulsory in all areas.

Captain John H Callender was appointed the force’s first chief officer and began work on 11 March with instructions to recruit and train officers to begin patrolling the streets on 13 April.

Captain Callender, who began his police career in Manchester in 1839, set to work and soon the style of uniform to be worn by the new officers was decided upon. They were to wear a blue frock coat, blue trousers and a tall hat. They would also be equipped with a great coat and cloth cape for use in inclement weather.

On 8 April, Captain Callender was sworn in along with two sergeants, John Cragg and Thomas Greenwood, and twelve constables. The new force got off to a difficult start, with many of the first constables soon dismissed for various breaches of discipline. It also found itself needing to be reinforced by Lancashire County Constabulary when riots and disorder broke out in July of the same year.

In September the force was inspected by Lt. Col Woodford, HM Inspector of Constabulary. He considered the force to be very creditable in appearance but insufficient in number.

In 1858 it was reported that the running cost for the first year of operation came to £1,235 1s 7d.

Despite difficult beginnings the force found its feet and so began a tradition of an independent force for Rochdale that lasted until the force was amalgamated with Lancashire Constabulary in 1969.

In 1974 the newly formed Greater Manchester Police took over responsibility for policing the area and today it forms the Rochdale Division of the GMP.