1918–1919 United Kingdom police strikes

[1]: 26 In 1870, police in Newcastle upon Tyne were recorded as 'in dispute' with their local Watch Committee over conditions of work and low pay, though they did not withdraw from duty.

Commissioner Sir Edward Henry responded by issuing an official police order banning the union and promising instant dismissal to anyone found to be associated with it.

The Home Secretary and the Commissioner believed that the threats of dismissal from the force and loss of pension rights would be an adequate deterrent.

The authorities grossly underestimated the strength of rank-and-file support for positive action to address their grievances and to defend Constable Thiel.

The day before the strike began, Police superintendents reported at their weekly meeting with the commissioner that all was quiet in the force.

The government deployed troops at key points across the capital in response and its priority was to end the strike.

He had the comforting knowledge that, given the circumstances in which his appointment was made, he was to have carte blanche in his dealings with the NUPPO and its officials.

He refused to recognise both James Marston, the president of NUPPO, and Jack Hayes, the general secretary.

As far as Macready was concerned the police had had a grievance that was now settled, and NUPPO remained an unofficial body therefore they were not to be dealt with.

These boards would consist of one delegate from each of the twenty-six divisions within the Metropolitan force – all of whom were to be elected by secret ballot.

The government announced that a committee be convened under Lord Desborough that would look at all aspects of police forces in England, Wales, and Scotland.

The Desborough Committee cited examples that a street sweeper in Newcastle-on-Tyne was on the same rate of pay as a constable in the provincial force.

Lord Desborough was therefore quite sympathetic to the plight of the ordinary policeman regarding pay, and consequently recommended comparatively generous increases.

It established the Police Federation of England and Wales, a public sector version of a company union, to replace NUPPO.

[1]: 27  The grievances of police in Liverpool were for many years ignored by a local Watch Committee noted for its disciplinarian attitude, which helped foster the propensity for collective action.

Left without an effective police presence, public order in some areas broke down and resulted in what the Liverpool Daily Post (4 August 1919) called "an orgy of looting and rioting".

[1]: 27  This continued for three or four days before the military, aided by non-striking police, brought the situation under control, but at the cost of several lives and more than 200 arrests for looting.

They received a pay increase that doubled their wages, and the government was for a time forced to take notice of their issues.