Alfred Herbert Richardson (1874–1951) was an English policeman. He joined the Birmingham City Police in 1890. He achieved very rapid promotion within this force and in 1901 became chief constable of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. In 1903 he successfully applied for the chief constable's office at Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, where he remained until his retirement in 1944. During his time there he achieved many early improvements in policing at Halifax, some of which were later used nationwide. The most notable were the installing of coloured lights as traffic signals at road junctions, the formalisation of procedures for police identity parades, making 'keep left' mandatory for traffic and the installation of police telephones in the town, among others. In later years he was recognized as being a policeman who was ahead of his time. He came from a police family: his father, Frank Richardson (1851–1938), was the Chief Constable of Hereford from 1882 until 1920, and his elder brother, Ernest Frank Richardson (1871–1952), served as Chief Constable of Salisbury between 1903 and 1929.1) Police Gazette November 1903. 2) Police Gazette September 1929. 3) Cheltenham Chronicle 17 October 1903. Thus three members of the Richardson family served as chief constables between 1902 and 1920. He also had three other brothers who served in other police forces.
Early life Alfred Herbert Richardson was the second son of Frank and Mary Richardson. He was born in a police house in Digbeth, Birmingham, where his father was serving in the city police force. He, along with his elder brother Ernest Frank, remained there until 1882. His father was then appointed Chief Constable of Hereford. This was a post he retained for 38 years until his retirement. When the family lived in Security Villa, next to the police station, Hereford,Hereford. OS plan 1.500 scale, showing Security Villa, Hereford for a Valuation Plan. OS sheet, city centre. Plot 5075. Herefordshire Record Office. Hereford. Alfred Richardson attended the Broomy Hill Academy, Breinton Road, Hereford.Broomy Hill Academy, Breinton Rd. Hereford.1. Leaflet/advertisement for school, circa 1890. 2. Kellys Trade and Residents Directory, Hereford, 1885–1920 editions. In around 1887, having finished his education, Alfred Richardson returned to Birmingham and took a post as a clerk in the City Police Force, Central Office.
Constable to detective inspector, Birmingham
Alfred Richardson joined the City of Birmingham Police Force on 27 October 1890City of Birmingham Police Records. Entry for 1890. Examination by R. Jolly. Surgeon. 27 October 1890. Ref:001. and was attested.This entails the individual making a "Solemn Declaration to Serve Our Sovereign," in this instance Queen Victoria. Alfred's declaration was: I, Alfred Herbert Richardson of Birmingham, do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to the law. Initially he was a 'beat constable'The 1891 census of England and Wales. UK Public Record Office, RG13/2865 p. 17. Entry: Fred Richardson, Police Constable. Address, Lodger at Police Quarters, Edgbaston, Birmingham. but was promoted through the four classes of constableship very rapidly and then moved from the beat to the Detective Office in central Birmingham. Here he came under the supervision of Superintendent (later Chief Superintendent) Gerard Van Helden, a very well-known detective of the time. On 26 April 1898 he was promoted to detective sergeant1) Newspaper The Hereford Mercury 27 April 1898. 2) Birmingham Museum Police Officers Records Book. Additional entry for 1898. p. 183. 3) Post Office Telegraphs, Aston St. Birmingham PO to Gloucester Docks PO 24 April 1898 No 333. Viewed 2012. and on 26 March 1900 to inspector.Newspaper The Birmingham Post 27 March 1900. Article, Birmingham Watch Committee Police Promotions and Awards. 2) Post Office Telegraphs, Aston St. Birmingham PO to Gloucester Docks PO 26 March 1900. No 365. Viewed 2012. Alfred Richardson remained in the Birmingham Central Detectives Office in the Municipal Buildings and the Moor Street Police Station and almost immediately he was promoted to detective inspector by the Birmingham Watch Committee of Police Promotion and Awards.Newspaper article Birmingham Post Police Promotions. April 1900. Alfred Richardson was living with his new wife and her parents at this time.Public Record Office Census of England and Wales, 1901. Green Lane, Bordsley, Aston, Birmingham. Entry: Alfred Richardson and wife Ethel Richardson. Ref. RG13/2865. p. 17. Alfred Richardson's mentor, Chief Superintendent Garrard Van Helden, died very suddenly in office in June 1901. Such was his standing in the Force that four chief constables, one of whom was Alfred's father Frank Richardson, and four deputy chief constables attended his funeral of 15 June 1901, with Alfred acting as a pall-bearer.A crowd and many policemen lined the five-mile route from Van Heldens residence in Moor Street to Lodge Hill Cemetery. The grave was in good condition when viewed in 2012. In May 1901 he successfully applied for the post of chief constable of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, beating 69 other applicants.Newspaper. Staffordshire Sentinel, Newcastle-under-Lyme section, article headed New Chief Constable of Newcastle. 20 August 1901.1) Newspaper: Staffordshire Sentinel, Newcastle-under-Lyme section, article headed New Chief Constable of Newcastle. 20 August 1901. 2) The Police Gazette, August 1901. The conditions of the appointment and schedule of duties wereNewcastle-under-Lyme Council, Staffordshire, Borough Watch Committee minutes, July 1901. "that the person to be appointed must not exceed 36 years of age. He will be requested to enter on his duties on the 2nd September, or as soon after as may be arranged and will be required to devote the whole of his time and attention to the duties of the office. The salary is £180 per annum with uniform, accouterments and boots. The duties will include all duties ordinarily appertaining to the office of the Chief Constable, the granting and endorsing of peddlers' licenses and the issuing of licenses, the duties of billet master, the duties of an Inspector of common lodging houses, the duties of an Inspector under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act and any other duties which the Watch Committee or the Town Council may desire him to perform consistently with his office."
Chief constable, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
Alfred Richardson duly started his duties at Newcastle-under-Lyme Police Station on 2 September 1901. The Force size for the town was 18 men. His new telephone number was '9'.Newspaper Sentinel and Newcastle Borough News, general notices. September 1901 issues. Within a few days there was a ceremony at the Town Hall and Square for the mayor and the town dignitaries and local citizens to meet their new chief constable, which he attended in his Number One uniform. This showed the chief constable's badge of rank, worn on the epaulettes, which consisted of crossed tipstaves in a wreath, surmounted by a crown, similar to the insignia of a Lieutenant General in the British Army. The population of the town was about 20,000 people and it was heavily industrialized. The conditionsSource: Book, History of Newcastle-under-Lyme, Formation of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Police Force by Council. 'The same conditions and work practices to be as those in the Birmingham City Police Force.' Newcastle-under-Lyme Public Library, Local Studies Section, viewed 2010. for his men were, "All Officers had to wear helmets for all duties and keep Truncheons. Constables would work twelve hours a day, seven days a week. There would be two shifts, one day and one night." There were no meal breaks. A beat system was such that a constable was taken to the start of his beat on foot by a superior. Constables worked on 'shifts', which meant they spent about six or seven hours during the day or night at their work. Some weeks they did 'nights', others they did 'evenings', others did 'days'. At this period they worked seven days a week with no rest days, which was to become a factor in Richardson's next appointment. As he had in Birmingham previously, the new chief constable now appeared by name regularly in the local newspaper in court cases.1) Newspaper Sentinel and Newcastle Borough News, 2) Staffordshire Police, by Sergeant Bennett, published 7 January 1993. Cases were: 1)Sept1901. Violent man.2) March 1901. Man with 44 convictions. 3) June 1901. Two men and a theft. 4) July 1902. Three persons and a theft. 5) July 1902. Theft. Case by Jury. In this case the treasurer of the borough ordered the prisoners to pay sums for costs and charges, including time, against themselves. The chief constable received £7.8s.10d. twice over. Newcastle-under-Lyme Public Library, Local Studies Section, viewed 2010. In these cases Alfred Richardson was the prosecutor, a role he was to continue in his next post. At this time, and later, the Borough had an ongoing problem with smallpox, which added to police work with contagion. Newcastle-under-Lyme Fire Service worked, as all fire services did, in conjunction with the local police force, but it was an entirely separate unit. There was a fire brigade captain and lieutenant, 12 men and two runners in Richardson's time. In 1901 it had a first-class steam engine, one manual engine and a new fire escape. It was separated from the police force in the early 1880s.Fire Brigade. Before this time a Police Superintendent ran the Brigade. Book, A History of the County of Stafford. Newcastle-under-Lyme Public Library, Local Studies Section.
Alfred Richardson had married Emily Ethel Marden in Birmingham at St Silas' Church, Lozells, on 13 August 1898.General Register Office, Marriage Registration for England and Wales. 13 August 1898. No. 106. Ethel was a daughter of Inspector Thomas Marden (1847–1913) of the Birmingham City Police, and the first of their two children was born in March 1902 in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the second in 1905. In February 1903 he found that the Council Watch Committee of Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, was advertisingThe Police Gazette, February 1903. for a new chief constable. Halifax was regarded as a 'tough town'. There were 31 applicants including five army officers, three chief constables and a number of police inspectors among them. Richardson was in the final interview. The police sub-committee selected six for the final interview and held a ballot as to who would be offered the position. Richardson received a substantial majority.Halifax Council Watch Committee minutes. Halifax Public Library, Local Studies Dept. 11 April 1903. His salary was to be £250 per annum with an annual increase of £25 until £350 was reached. £50 per annum was paid in lieu of house coal, light, water, taxes and clothing. Two and a half per cent of salary was paid into the police pension fund. He tendered his resignation to the Newcastle-under-Lyme Watch Committee in March 1903.Newspaper: Newcastle Borough News. Article, Young Chief of Police goes to Halifax.9 April 1903: The local newspaper, the Halifax Guardian, carried the news in an article: "Young Chief of Police. Mr A. H. Richardson was appointed Chief Constable of Halifax yesterday. He is one of the youngest Chief Constables in the country being at present but thirty one years of age." (In fact he was 29 years old, as he had joined the force under age.)
Chief constable, Halifax, West Yorkshire