The Lee Conservancy Police was the name given to a body of constables who policed the Lee Navigation, and were maintained by the Lee Conservancy Board, from at least 1871 until the canal system was nationalised in 1948, when they became part of the British Transport Police.
[2] Ross made his presence soon felt, when just a few months into the job he arrested and had prosecuted a bargeman for threatening him with violence whilst he was directing traffic on the river.
In 1913 a report from the "Engineer and Manager" stated that the five constables then employed were overworked and would benefit from assistance.
[2] During the Second World War police numbers increased, and by 1948 there was a Superintendent, Inspector, Sergeant and eleven constables.
[3] The canal system of Great Britain was nationalised in 1948 and brought under the control of the British Transport Commission.