In 1903 he successfully applied for the chief constable's office at Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he remained until his retirement in 1944.

[3] In around 1887, having finished his education, Alfred Richardson returned to Birmingham and took a post as a clerk in the City Police Force, Central Office.

[note 1] Initially he was a 'beat constable'[5] but was promoted through the four classes of constableship very rapidly and then moved from the beat to the Detective Office in central Birmingham.

[9] Alfred Richardson's mentor, Chief Superintendent Garrard Van Helden, died very suddenly in office in June 1901.

[16] Alfred Richardson had married Emily Ethel Marden in Birmingham at St Silas' Church, Lozells, on 13 August 1898.

There was a surge of threats to officials at this time, including the British Royal Family, and he had to move in closer to the town centre and live nearer the Police station at Harrison Road.

Richardson was considered to be the man to bring this about and he had acquired the reputation of being a strict disciplinarian which continued throughout his career.

He presented his first financial accounts to the Halifax Watch Committee on 28 September 1903[26] where the cost of the Constabulary per week averaged £164.1s.7d.

[28] On 3 December 1906 Alfred Richardson, was given permission to join the general and finance committee of the Northern Police Orphanage and Convalescent Home in Halifax.

"[33] 1907 had seen the Women's Suffrage Movement make its presence known in Halifax, mainly by a local resident named Lavena Saltonstall (1881–1957).

[note 4] Saltonstall was born near Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire, and moved to live permanently in Haugh Road Halifax in 1906.

An ecclesiastical looking individual in belt and buttons, and with a signet ring and a scholarly stoop, he mounted guard over the door by which we had entered.

Apparently he got very tenacious about their working hours and would not back down after repeated attempts to get them a better deal got dragged out over a period of time.

His men were very grateful for his efforts and a brass plaque was cast in 1910 and erected in the entrance hall of Harrison Road Police Station from 1910 until 1985.

[41] The Suffragettes were holding meetings that often ended with crowd trouble and there were many strikes at local works and on the railways in the offing at Halifax.

[42] On 18 May 1912 there was a special meeting of the Watch Committee and it was resolved 'That the Police Standing Orders be reprinted as amended and re-published to the Force.'

[note 5] On 11 July 1912 King George V and Queen Mary visited Clough Mill, a factory site near Halifax.

"[52] During the First World War Richardson, in his position as chief constable, issued instructions[53] about introducing, the Keep Left Rule, Traffic Signals and the Police Identity Parade.

Later, in the yard of the Police Station at Harrison Road, policemen from the newly increased Mounted Section posed for a photograph.

Richardson continued his involvement with the local population by encouraging swimming and life-saving lessons and giving awards at the Woodside Baths, Halifax.

A photograph was taken and published in the Halifax Guardian showing the King and Queen with Chief Constable Richardson, the mayor and other local dignitaries.

In November 1938 there was in an incident of mass hysteria in Halifax as many people in the town believed a serial killer was on the loose.

A report from the Halifax Watch Committee stated "The Chief Constable requested extra furniture and repairs for more staff at Harrison Rd.

Chief Constable and Fire Brigade to liaise and are instructed all of Halifax's public buildings are to be fitted with window blinds."

The Chief Constable was authorised to carry out painting or white washing of kerbstones and necessary discs for traffic signals.

This was in contrast to his brother Frank Richardson, chief constable of Salisbury, who attested the first female police officer in England.

[76] It was noted in the Halifax Police Force Officers and Constables Book, that Alfred Herbert Richardson, "Joined 8th June 1903.

He received much praise from the Halifax Special Constabulary and the town council in the various speeches made at this time, and in official meetings held before his day of departure.

Alfred Richardson was always known as Fred in the family, a name he decided to retain when he joined the Constabulary on 27 October 1890, (under the required age.)

Also Fred Richardson's cousin, Ralph Clutterbuck, had died at the same time[note 11] of Diabetes in South Africa.