Hereford Journal - 22nd April 1857

THE NEW COUNTY CONSTABLE.

Superintendent Constance having been appointed by Captain Telfer a sergeant of the county constabulary at Rhayder leaves this town on Thursday next. Mr. Constance has proved himself a most efficient officer, and has by his good conduct, judgement and discretion gained the confidence and good opinion of all classes of the town and its neighbourhood. It is pleasing, moreover, to observe that his services are duly appreciated. A subscription has been entered into for the purpose of presenting him with a suitable testimonial. expressive of approval of his manly and straightforward conduct in the discharge of the duties of his office, during a period of ten years he has been stationed here.

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Hereford Journal - 28th October 1857

AUGMENTATION OF THE POLICE FORCE. The Chief Constable (Capt. Telfer) handed in the following report :—"I have the honour to lay before you in the forms issued from the Home Office, by order of the Right Hon. Sir George Grey, Bart., one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, the returns of crime and Police expenditure in this county from the establishment of the force, to September 29th, 1857. One death has occurred amongst the constables — P.C. William Stephens, Knighton. The authorised force (one superintendent, two sergeants, and six constables), is complete. The expenditure for the quarter has been £208 4s. 6d. A rate of three-eighths will suffice for the service of the ensuing quarter."

 

William Stephens died in June of 1857, aged just 31. His place of death is given as 'Police Station, Knighton' He was buried in Knighton churchyard on 22nd June 1857.

 

Hereford Journal - 24th June 1857

June 20, at Knighton, after a few days illness, of measles and small-pox, Mr. William Stephens, police constable, aged 31. Deceased was efficient officer, and much respected.

 

• 1861 John Newman, 33, Police Sergeant, Pig Market, Knighton

                Richard Edwards, 25, Police Constable, Church Street, Knighton

 

Hereford Times - 24th December 1864

COUNTY OF RADNOR.

KNIGHTON LOCK-UP AND JUSTICES' ROOM.

TO BUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS.

ANY PERSONS desirous of CONTRACTING for the erection of a LOCK-UP and JUSTICES' ROOM, upon the site to be pointed out at Knighton, according to the plans and specifications, which may be inspected at the office of Mr. S. W. Williams, the county surveyor, Rhayader, are requested to send in TENDERS, under cover, addressed to "The Clerk of the Peace, Kington, Herefordshire" on or before Monday, the 2nd day of January, 1865.

                The Tenders will be taken into consideration at the next General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, to be held at the Shire-hall, Presteign, on Thursday, the 5th day of January, 1865.

RICHARD BANKS, Clerk of the Peace. Kington, 14th December 1863

 

Hereford Times - 26th October 1867

The County Treasurer (Mr. W. Stephens), in referring to the Knighton lock-up, said he was afraid to say how long it was since it was commenced, but it was now in the same incomplete state as it was nine months ago, and it would still be a long time before it was completed. He did not know whether it was the contractor's fault, but he might mention, as the county treasurer, that the delay in completing the lock-up caused considerable inconvenience to the district, and was a matter which affected the ratepayers pecuniarily, inasmuch as the county has now to pay for the use of a room in which to hold the petty sessions, whilst the building, as at Rhayader, was constructed for the transaction of the public business. He thought some explanation was necessary as to why the contractor had not completed the building, for if ordinary diligence had been used it might have been finished 12 months ago.

                On reference to the contract, it appeared that the contractor engaged to complete and deliver up the building in a finished state on or before the 31st March, 1866. The CHAIRMAN also moved that Mr. Nicholson be requested to report specially on the state of the Knighton lock-up, and on the cause of the delay that has taken place in its completion. It was most unreasonable, he said, that the county should pay for the building of an expensive lock-up, and also a room in which the magistrates could transact their business, and at the same time be paying for the use of a room in the same town for the same purpose. It was a question for the court to say if the contractor had not done his duty, whether the Clerk of the Peace should not be instructed to take legal proceedings to compel him.

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• 1871 David Rogers, 34, Police Sergeant - Police Station, Bridge Street, Knighton

 

• 1881 David Rogers, 44, Police Inspector & Deputy Chief Constable - Bridge Street, Knighton

               Joseph Normington, 29, Police Constable, Market Street, Knighton

 

South Wales Echo - 30th August 1887

SAVAGE ASSAULT ON THE  POLICE AT KNIGHTON.

A serious disturbance occurred in Broad-street, Knighton, late on Saturday night, by which several persons were injured. It seems that after the public-houses had closed, Inspector Rogers, accompanied by P.C. Jenkins, was going his rounds, when he came upon a lot of roughs making a great noise. The inspector and Jenkins endeavoured to take the leader, a man named Lucas, into custody, when he (the inspector) was severely set upon by Lucas and his friends, who knocked him down, kicked him fearfully about the face and body, tore out his whiskers, and broke a bone in his leg. He was taken home, but his injuries are so severe that it will be a month before he can resume duty. P.C. Jenkins was badly kicked in the stomach, and vomited blood. Several of the bystanders who interfered at the call of the police were knocked down and shamefully kicked. Lucas is still at large.

 

South Wales Daily News - 1st October 1887

THE ASSAULT ON THE KNIGHTON POLICE. RUFFIANS" LIGHTLY LET OFF.

At the Knighton police-court-before the Rev A. Thomas (chairman) and Messrs F. C. Cobden and E. Jenkins - Edward Lucas, labourer, was charged with assaulting Inspector Rogers and P.C. Jenkins on the 27th of August last., and Edward Lello and Susan Lucas with impeding the police in the execution of their duty.- Inspector Rogers, who looked very ill from the rough usage he had received, said that on the night in question he heard the defendant Lucas and a gang of roughs making a great disturbance in Broad-street. He threatened to lock him up, and his mother took him home, but he afterwards returned, made use of fearful language, and defied the police to take him. They "collared" him, and were taking him to the station when he knocked the inspector down and kicked him severely about the head and stomach. P.C. Jenkins was also kicked in the stomach. Lello and his mother (Susan Lucas) interfered, and after a great struggle, during which the inspector's whiskers were torn out and his leg broken, the prisoner escaped, and has not yet been captured. After hearing further evidence the Chairman stated that this was the most serious offence that had come before them, and he could not imagine where the respectable people of Knighton could have been to allow such a thing. Lucas was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour for the assault on Inspector Rogers, and one month for the assault on P.C. Jenkins.- Lello was fined £1 and expenses, and Mrs Lucas 5s. Much surprise was expressed at the leniency of the sentences.

 

• 1891 David Rogers, 54, Police Inspector & Deputy Chief Constable- Bridge Street, Knighton

               Thomas Pugh, 28, Police Constable , Norton Street, Knighton

 

South Wales Daily News - 14th November 1896

KNIGHTON. RETIREMENT OF INSPECTOR ROGERS. The Radnorshire Police Force will soon be losing one of its old and valuable officers in Inspector Rogers, who will retire at the end of the present month upon a well-earned pension. At the Police Court, on Thursday, the magistrates on the Bench expressed their regret. at losing the valuable services of Inspector Rogers.

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Brecon County Times - 26th November 1896

The Clerk said Inspector Rogers had applied to the Guardians to add 10 years to his period of service as assistant vagrant officer. Mr Rogers had sent in a statement which set forth that he was appointed at Knighton on September 8th, 1865; he I left in November, 1866, and was re-appointed in June, 1868, ever since which he had continuously served up to the present time.

                The Clerk said he had examined the records of the proceedings of the Guardians, which confirmed Mr Rogers' statements. Inspector Rogers had served a period of 29 years and 7 months, but an officer was only allowed to reckon completed years. He then read the Section of the Act under which the Guardians could, with the consent of the Local Government Board, add a number of years, not exceeding 10, to the term of the actual service of any officer.  If ten years were added, Mr Rogers would be entitled to reckon 39 years, and as his salary was £5 per year, he would be entitled to £3 5s. superannuation. Without the addition of the ten years, Mr Rodgers' superannuation would amount to £2 8s. 4d.

                Proceeding the Clerk said Inspector Rogers had taken great pains in carrying out his duty, and it was probably due to the Inspector's strictness with tramps that, whilst other Unions had had very large increases, Knighton had not been served in that way. Mr Rogers took the tramp. into a room and examined them, and if he had the least doubt in his mind, he made them strip, and searched them to see if anything was concealed on their persons. The very fact that the tramps were searched and had to go before the police, had in a the great measure prevented increase Of tramps in that Union

                The Chairman said in some unions there were tramp wards with a labour master. That meant salaries, but for the small sun of £5 per year, with the permission of the Chief Constable, the Board had been able to avail themselves of the services of the police. It bad been very cheap to the Union, and it had also been deterring to the tramps,  who did not like to appear before the gentlemen in blue, they much preferred moving onwards.

                Mr T Dyke moved that the Board add ten years to Inspector Rogers' period of service.

                This was seconded by the Rev. J. H. Brown, and unanimously carried.

                The Chairman said he thought the Board had done the right thing. They were all economists, he was sure Mr Dyke had been an economist for some years now, but this was a case in which the Board could have been too economical.

 

• 1901 William Hopton, 49, Police Sergeant, - Police Court, Police Station, Bridge Street, Knighton

 

• 1901 William Bufton, 31, Police Constable, Cwm Or Castle Bank, Knighton

 

• 1911 William Bufton, 41, Sergeant of Police, Police Station, Knighton

 

• 1911 William Aspley, 25. Police Constable, 14 Norton Street, Knighton.

 

The Radnor Express - 31st May 1917

Ex. P.c. William Aspley, who was well known in this district, is now in a military hospital in France, suffering from shrapnel wound in the head received in action. He is progressing favourably.

 

Hereford Times 3rd March 1934

At the Knighton Police Court on Wednesday, Police Sergeant Lewis Morris charged himself with having his chimney on fire on February 6th. It was very amusing to hear the Sergeant conduct the prosecution and defence, and the case caused considerable laughter. After stating the evidence briefly, P. S. Morris said he reported the matter to the Chief Constable in the usual way, and was ordered to take out a summons against himself. There were no previous convictions, and he had never been cautioned (laughter). The Chairman (to the Chief Constable): Don't you generally caution people in these cases? The Chief Constable: We generally give warning, but this was so serious a matter that we had to take notice of it (renewed laughter). Mr Dilwyn Jones suggested that in case their worships imposed a fine they should allow the defendant time to pay (laughter). The case was dismissed, also was a similar summons against William John Edwards, Bridge Street, Knighton.

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