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History of South Wales Police Headquarters In the 13th Century, Conservators (also known as Wardens) were introduced to assist Sheriffs with their duties as Head Constable of the Shire. Due to an increasing population and subsequently, an increase in crime, Conservators were needed to alleviate the workload. The Conservators later became known as Justices of the Peace, and were men of good position and authority in their county. The powers of the Justices grew quickly and for several centuries they were in charge of public affairs in the counties. They authorised the appointment of parish constables and petty constables, and the police arrangements for the district were their responsibility. In 1829 Sir Robert Peel, the Secretary of State for the Home Department, sponsored the Metropolitan Police Act. This Act created the Metropolitan Police Force. Ten years later, the County Police Act of 1839 was passed, which granted the establishment of County Police Forces by the authority of Justices of the Peace. The First Glamorgan Constabulary Headquarters The County Constabulary of Glamorgan was established in 1841 and Captain Charles Frederick Napier of the Rifle Brigade was appointed Chief Constable of the County. His Headquarters was an office in the Town Hall in Bridgend. In October 1841, the constabulary consisted of the Chief Constable, 11 sergeants and 23 constables. Early in Captain Napier s term of office, the accommodation at the Town Hall was deemed inadequate for the police and other officials. Consequently, the Board of Guardians of the Bridgend Union kindly permitted the right wing of their workhouse to be used by the rural police of Glamorgan during their stay at Bridgend. From old prints of the workhouse, it appears that a substantial area was made available for the police. Bridgend Town Hall, Wyndham Street, Bridgend, pictured in 1910. The building was demolished during the 1960s Officers remained there until the new Bridgend Town Hall was built. Quarter Sessions made a substantial contribution to the building s construction, and the Superintendent of the Ogmore Division occupied the portion of the building allocated to police. During this period, Parliament created a standard process for appointing constables in order to co-ordinate the duties of parish constables and special constables. This meant that gradually, more officers were appointed. The Transfer of Power to Cardiff Captain Napier s successor was Lieutenant Colonel Henry Gore Lindsay, who was appointed in 1867 and served until 1891. At that time, the coal industry was commercialising and railway lines from Cardiff to the different valleys were built. These transport links provided a more convenient way of travelling to the developing areas than what Bridgend could offer. During Colonel Lindsay s period of office, the Chief Constable s Headquarters transferred from Bridgend to Roath in Cardiff, but when money from the Quarter Sessions paid for a police station in Canton, Cardiff in 1871, the Chief Constable s office moved there. 2
Consequently, Canton Police Station was adapted to make it a more suitable Headquarters for a larger force. Canton Police Station in Cardiff. This building was also demolished in the 1960s A similar station was built in Roath in 1872. Under the Cardiff Improvements Act in 1875, the hamlet of Canton and a portion of the parish of Roath were incorporated in the Cardiff Borough. Roath Police Station was taken over by the Cardiff Police Authority, but Canton remained as the County Police Headquarters. An Expanding Force The Local Government Act of 1888 brought great changes in the status of the County Police Authorities. Powers formerly vested in Quarter Sessions were transferred to a Joint Committee, designated as the Standing Joint Committee. Justices of Quarter Sessions and members of the County Council were both present at the committee. Colonel Lindsay was succeeded in 1891 by his son, Captain Lionel Lindsay, who served as Chief Constable until the beginning of 1937. The coal exporting trade of this period was prosperous for Glamorgan county. The rapid growth of the population was accompanied by extensive development of public services, including a substantial increase in the number of police officers and police buildings. On Captain Lindsay s appointment, 343 officers served in Glamorgan Constabulary. Glamorgan Police Headquarters was anticipated to move to New County Hall, but there was undivided opinion on whether the County Administrative Centre should be at Cardiff or elsewhere in the county. At that time, the County Council met alternatively at Pontypridd and Neath. Eventually the County Hall was built in Cathays Park and opened in Spetember 1912. However, before the opening, it became apparent that the police could not be accommodated there. The Search for a New Headquarters Towards the end of the World War I, the city and boroughs in Glamorgan were expected to extend their boundaries. This materialised to some extent in 1918 when Mumbles, Sketty and Llansamlet became part of Swansea city. In 1922, Cardiff absorbed Ely, Llandaff, Gabalfa and Llanishen. Briton Ferry and Giant s Grave became part of Neath borough. These extensions to the county area raised questions about whether it was time for Police Headquarters to move outside of Cardiff. There would have been plenty of offers to home a prestigious new Police Headquarters from representatives of different districts in the county if it did transfer from Cardiff. When the County Hall in Cathays Park, Cardiff, was revealed as an inadequate base, negotiations began for an extensive new wing that would house police staff. However, great disappointment followed when it became clear that there was not enough accommodation at County Hall for police purposes, and it was no longer considered a viable option. In response, more structural adaptations were undertaken at Canton station and Headquarters Instructional Staff, new entrants and trainees were transferred to Barry Dock. The Chief Constable and Police Authority weren t happy with Headquarters administrative staff being dispersed. They recognised the distinct advantages of a central Headquarters with residential accommodation for new entrants and facilities for new trainees to undergo courses. Although every effort was made, a building that could provide sleeping accommodation, instructional classrooms, recreational facilities and accommodation for instructors could not be found. Bridgend is Chosen The Standing Joint Committee felt that something had to be done, and in 1938, Bridgend was unanimously agreed as the most suitable location for a county Police Headquarters. The committee were encouraged by the improved transport links in Bridgend, and desired to be near the new RAF station in St Athan given the progress being made in aviation. 3
The site was used as a Royal Ordinance factory during the Second World War, the area highlighted in red shows the current Headquarters site. A site of nearly 30 acres was chosen; situated west of the road leading from Bridgend to Ewenny and south of the by-pass from Ewenny Cross in the direction of Swansea. Planning began for the construction of the new Headquarters, to ensure there was adequate accommodation for administrative staff, residential training, recreation and welfare amenities, and residential accommodation for married members of Headquarters staff. World War II Plans for the new Headquarters were put on hold at the start of World War II in September 1939. Many additional duties and responsibilities fell on the police during the war, which also impeded developments. Fortunately, before the outbreak of the war, a mansion known as Dyffryn House, together with its gardens, had been gifted to the County Council to advance education in horticulture, botany and allied studies. Through the good-will of the County Council and the donor, this mansion was made available for the Police Authority to use as a reserve Police Headquarters and training facility for police, wardens and other ancillary ARP Services during the war. The mansion proved to be a very useful facility. Wartime duty training for police officers started immediately and progressed with the full support of the Home Office. The training was inspected by His Majesty s Inspector of Constabulary, who thought that the facilities should be offered to other forces by the Police Authority. As a result, police forces throughout Wales and Monmouthshire began training in the mansion, and the Police Headquarters, Bridgend, 1947 building was used continuously by the police, civil defence, and military, or all three services combined. In September 1943, the Secretary of State appointed a Committee to consider training arrangements for the services after the war. Later, Police Authorities were asked for their views of the Committee s proposals for recruitment and training. Subsequently, the following was agreed: n All recruits should go through a residential training course for three months before undertaking any police duties; n The training schools maintained before the war by individual forces should, when re-established, provide refresher courses for serving police officers and men rejoining the police after service in the armed forces n A training centre for recruits should be established in each of the Chief Constables districts to provide initial training for all recruits in that district; n Recruiting Boards should be set up in each of the Chief Constables' districts; With the war soon to end and armed forces due to return home, the District Recruiting Board needed to find a training centre to accommodate approximately 150 pupils. They viewed a number of premises, but with 4
The new Public Service Centre, an addition to South Wales Police Headquarters in 2012 the co-operation of the Home Office, they secured the use of the Bevin Hostel for Miners at Bryncethin. This provided the accommodation needed for the immediate post-war training of new entrants into the police service. The Glamorgan Education Committee allowed the police to continue using Dyffryn House for refresher courses for officers re-joining the service from the armed forces. However, this was not to be a permanent arrangement, particularly as the Education Act of 1944 had extended the responsibilities of education authorities. Any prospect of continuing the build of Police Headquarters in Bridgend was now out of the question. After the war, there was a greater need for new houses. The Royal Ordnance Factory The Glamorgan Police Authority poised itself to seize any opportunity for a Headquarters and training centre, even if it was only a temporary measure until a new Headquarters could be built. This led the Police Authority to question the future of the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bridgend. The group of buildings had been completed in 1940, and were constructed of steel framing encased in reinforced concrete, with outer walls of brickwork. 5 Although severely utilitarian in design, the buildings had a certain charm. The authority cleared stated their interest in occupying the premises if they became available. The opportunity did arise, and without any delay, negotiations were opened. Formerly the largest munitions factory in Europe, the Royal Ordnance Factory at Bridgend became the new Glamorgan Constabulary Police Headquarters in 1947. These new Headquarters placed the central administration of the Glamorgan Constabulary in the town where it was originally established just over a century ago. Decades later, the South Wales Police Headquarters remains at this site. There have been many changes and additions during this time, as the force has continued to expand. Most recently, the state-of-the-art Joint Scientific Investigation Unit and the Public Service Centre, the force s call handling department, were built on site.
South Wales Police South Wales Police Headquarters Cowbridge Road, Bridgend CF31 3SU Email: info@south-wales.pnn.police.uk Telephone: 01656 869291 Visit our website at www.south-wales.police.uk Designed and Printed by South Wales Police Print Department.