Search the Catalogue
Browse the Index
Glamorgan Archives
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police records
Reference code(s): GB 0214 DCONMT
Held at:
Title: Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police records
Short title: Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police records
Dates of creation: 1908-1971
Level of description: Fonds
Extent and medium: 0.28 cubic metres (32 volumes, 46 booklets, 69 files, 1 envelope, 1 bundle, 4 boxes and 1 card)
Name of creator(s): Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police
CONTEXT
Administrative and biographical history: Following the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, borough police forces were set up in Cardiff, Neath and Swansea, Glamorgan. However, it was only in 1908, when Merthyr Tydfil became a County Borough, that a borough police force was established there. Previously, Merthyr Tydfil was part of Division A of the Glamorgan Constabulary. The new borough force was provided with three main stations, at Merthyr Tydfil, Dowlais and Merthyr Vale, and 85 police officers were appointed. Like other borough police forces, the Merthyr Tydfil force, was administered separately by the Borough Council's Watch Committee until its amalgamation into the South Wales Police Authority in 1969.
CONTENT
Scope and content: Records of the Merthyr Tydfil borough police, 1908-1971: reports of the Chief Constable to the watch committee, 1908-1942; annual reports of the Chief Constable to the watch committee, 1946-1968; annual reports of the Chief Constable to the licensing committee, 1949, 1952-1968; register of crimes, 1951-1969; papers relating to crimes investigated by Merthyr Tydfil borough police force, 1942-1967; calendar of prisoners at the Quarter Sessions held at Merthyr Tydfil, 1961, 1962; records relating to police stations, 1957-1971; sickness register, 1952-1969; miscellaneous, 1903-1968; personnel files, [1920s]-1969; visits to prisoners in the cells, 1946-1951; and prisoner property book, 1949-1950.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/script: English
System of arrangement: Arranged into the following: minutes and reports; records relating to crimes; records relating to Explosives Act, 1875; records relating to Pedlars Acts, 1871 and 1881; licensing records; records relating to police stations; personnel records; miscellaneous records; and personnel files.
Conditions governing access: Access to some police records is restricted as many of them contain sensitive information about individuals. It is advisable to contact the Archives in advance of a visit, to ensure that the records can be made available for consultation in our public searchroom.
Conditions governing reproduction: Normal Glamorgan Archives conditions apply.
Finding aids: A full version of the catalogue can be searched online at http://calmview.cardiff.gov.uk/calmview/
Detailed catalogue
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information: All records which meet the collection policy of the Glamorgan Record Office have been retained.
Accruals: Accruals are not expected.
Immediate source of acquisition: Deposited by the South Wales Police Authority at various intervals.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related units of description: Related units of description held at the Glamorgan Archives: DCON, Glamorgan Constabulary; DCONC, Cardiff Borough Police; DCONS, Swansea Borough Police Force; DCONN, Neath Borough Police Force; and DCONP Glamorgan Constabulary Plans.
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note: Title supplied from contents of fonds. Additional information about the police can be found in the records of the Quarter Sessions, County Council and Borough Councils. This is because of the involvement of the local authorities in the administration of the police forces.
Archivist's note: Compiled by Hayden Burns for the ANW project. The following sources were used in the compilation of this description: Glamorgan Record Office, Catalogue of records for the Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police Force; Baker, E.R.,'The beginnings of the Glamorgan County Police.' Glamorgan Historian. vol. 2, ed. Stewart Williams, (Barry, 1965); Eira M. Smith, 'Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police, 1908-38', Merthyr Historian, vol. 4, 1989; Jones, David J. V., Crime and Policing in the 20th Century: the South Wales Experience, (Cardiff, 1996).
Rules or conventions: This description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) second edition, AACR2, and LCSH.
Date(s) of description: December 2003, revised and amended March 2006
INDEX ENTRIES
Subjects
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police Force | Archives
Personal names
Corporate names
Merthyr Tydfil Borough Police Force
