History of policing in Wolverhampton documented in new book

7 March 2024

West Midlands Police Museum has teamed up with a researcher and author for a new book on the  history of policing in Wolverhampton.

Elaine Goodey, who is doing a PhD in English literature at the University of Birmingham, has spoken about writing ‘Wolverhampton Borough Police: 1848 to 1966’ for World Book Day (Thursday 7 March).

The book documents the Force from its early formation in 1848 to 1966, when it was merged into West Midlands Constabulary.

Elaine said: “It was so much fun to research, and pull together the different resources into one coherent book.  

It’s been one of the highlights of my PhD.”

West Midlands Police Museum said the book provides a captivating journey through the annals of policing in Wolverhampton.

It sheds light on the individuals who have shaped its legacy, police vehicles through the ages, former police stations and even compliments and complaints about Wolverhampton officers.

Corinne Brazier, the museum’s heritage manager, said: “The vast majority of our books are about Birmingham and Birmingham police, and in 2020 we did a booklet on Dudley police for the 100th anniversary of Dudley Borough Police.

C Supt Rich Fisher (Wolverhampton LPA), PC Rani Gundhu, Inspector
Gavin Plumridge and Corinne Brazier at Wolverhampton Police Station.

“We did a book for Coventry when it was City of Culture in 2021, and there’s a retired police officer I know who is currently writing a book about Walsall, so Wolverhampton felt like one that needed covering.

“And the reaction to it has been really good.”

Corinne added: “It’s really interesting to read about the early days of policing in Wolverhampton.

“It talks about the different chief constables, the establishment of the Force, and some of the personal stories are fascinating, particularly the story of Joe Davies.

Joe Davies at work.

“He was a superintendent when he retired in 1976 and seems to have had the most incredible career.

“He was the first to do lots of different things.

“We’ve got a picture of him with a very early radio, which was in a battery pack on his back, which was around the 1940s.

“He was one of the first to ride a police motorcycle.

“And there’s a picture of him standing next to the first police car that’s got a radio in it.

“He had the most incredible career and it’s wonderful to be able to capture that and share it with people.”

Elaine spoke about the work that went into researching and pulling the book together, using resources from the museum, local history websites and the British Newspaper Archives.

Elaine Goodey, who is doing a PhD in English
literature at the University of Birmingham.

She said: “The idea was to provide a collative view, from lots of difference sources, of a picture of policing, not just from a crime perspective but the police’s relationship with the community they worked in.

“We wanted to give a flavour of how integral Wolverhampton Borough Police had been to Wolverhampton life.

“It’s knowing where to find your sources and then picking out the bits that pull together either chronologically or thematically and start collating that into a coherent book.

“It was a proud moment to see it in print.”

‘Wolverhampton Borough Police: 1848 to 1966’ is available from the West Midlands Police Museum website and the museum shop at the Lock-up in Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham.