Winchester City Police

The City of Winchester became the first place in Hampshire to set up a police force, four years before any other part of the county, and seven years before the county force was established at the end of 1839.

The force was established with an Inspector (Robert Buchanan) and seven constables on 28 July 1832.

The force nearly folded through lack of funds, but with the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, Winchester formed a Watch Committee and was able to secure funds to keep the police force.

With the Second World War well underway, the British government felt that the south coast would be best served by larger forces.

This was meant to be a temporary measure and Winchester would be able to split from Hampshire at the end of the war, nothing really changed with the running of the force, and all the officers kept their rank and uniforms, except for the Head Constable, who became a superintendent and answered to the Chief Constable of Hampshire instead of the Watch Committee of Winchester.