Jersey's first paid police officers operated only in St Helier - it was nearly 50 years before other parishes were patrolled.
1853
The States of Jersey Police has a history dating back to 1853, when a small group of uniformed officers operated in St Helier. The officers wore locally-made uniforms, but their helmets, rattles, lamps and truncheons came from the UK. They had to pay for their own uniforms - the cost was deducted from their 23 shillings weekly wage.
The officers worked from the Town Hall in Seale Street, and were also responsible for fighting fires. However, this changed 15 years later when a volunteer fire fighting service was established.
St Helier Paid Police Force
The force became larger and more standardised over time, and in the 1890s officers began to work a day shift as well as a night shift, and became known as the St Helier Paid Police Force. They also began to patrol on pedal cycles.
By the 1930s, the St Helier Paid Police Force were patrolling other parishes on horseback.
German Occupation
During the German Occupation of Jersey (1940-1945) 40 ‘specials’ or auxiliary officers began to work with the paid police and together they patrolled the town and outskirts, with a lone patrol car by night and a motorcyclist by day.
Transfer from parish to States
In 1950 a mobile section was formed, but the paid police remained a parish body until 1951. In 1952 a Police Bill transferred the control of the paid police from the parish of St Helier to the States of Jersey. The new police force became official on 24 May 1952 with 64 police officers.
In 2011 there were about 236 police officers supported by about 90 civilian staff.
- History of policing in Jersey
- Honorary Police
- A history of the States Police
- Police uniforms in Jersey
This gallery includes images from the States of Jersey Police Facebook page. Click on any image to see a larger version
Summer uniform in the 1960s
On duty in King Street
The Police Force in the early 20th century
A march past at a Police awards ceremony in 1953
An unnamed policeman at Snow Hill with chimney sweep Tom Channing
St Helier paid police
Harbour Police in 1950
Harbour Police in 1950
An early policeman
The Police sub-aqua team are inspected
Police narch along Aquila Road in 1935 to an official parade
1937 police van
1948 police van
1960
On parade in the early 1970s
At the Battle of Flowers in 1912
Harbour police patrol in 1969
Police first aiders and officials in 1940
Police van in 1948
Police football team in 1913
A 1957 outing for children of policemen
The Queen meets officers in 1957
Police use radio to help control traffic during major JEC works in 1964
A police uniform button
States of Jersey policemen, vintage 1936
What the well-dressed Jersey policeman was wearing in 1970
A policeman's cap from 1970
Summer uniforms in the 1960s
Evolution of police uniforms
Summer uniforms in the 1960s
Inspector David Watkins and his team
Dog handler Graeme Best with Rebel in the 1960s
PC Graeme Best
A formal inspection in the 1960s
Police parade at Government House photographed by Percival Dunham
A line-up of policemen outside the Royal Court. The occasion has not been identified, but it may have been after a swearing-in ceremony, possibly shortly before the Second World War
At the junction of King Street and New Street in 1937
A hot time for this Sergeant and Constable between the wars
Marching through Broad Street
1953 inspection
New police cars in 1952 - Jowett Javelins
Point duty at the Weighbridge in summer uniform in the 1950s
The Paid Police football team in the 1900s. Was this their match strip?
New cars and their drivers on parade with Chief Officer Henry Le Brocq on the right
