66-480: The Manchester and Salford Yeomanry cavalry was a short-lived yeomanry regiment formed in response to social unrest in northern England in 1817. The volunteer regiment became notorious for its involvement in the 1819 Peterloo Massacre , in which as many as 15 people were killed and 400–700 were injured. Often referred to simply as the Manchester Yeomanry , the regiment was disbanded in 1824. After
132-527: A £ 1,100 "recognition award" in Scotland and some forces in England, but their work is in the main voluntary and unpaid. Special constables have identical powers to their regular (full-time) colleagues and work alongside them, but most special constabularies in England and Wales have their own organisational structure and grading system , which varies from force to force. Special constabularies are headed by
198-466: A certain digit or they may have additional insignia on their epaulettes which is usually a crown with the letters SC above or below it (although some forces just use the letters). Formerly, male special constables in English and Welsh forces did not wear helmets while on foot patrol but wore patrol caps instead, but in most forces they now do wear helmets. Some forces also issue special constables with
264-464: A chief officer. In Scotland, special constables have no separate administrative structure and grading system. While the idea of a populace policing itself dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, with English common law requiring that all citizens have the legal obligation to come to the assistance of a police officer, it was not until 1673 that Charles II ruled that citizens may be temporarily sworn in as constables during times of public disorder. This ruling
330-404: A different hat badge from that of their regular counterparts although this is now extremely rare. Special constables all carry the same personal protective equipment (PPE) as their regular counterparts, such as handcuffs , batons , incapacitant spray ( CS/PAVA spray ), and protective vests. The issuing of equipment varies from force to force with financial factors being the main reason behind
396-592: A frantic attempt to catch up, knocked down a woman in Cooper Street, causing the death of her child when he was thrown from her arms; two-year-old William Fildes was the first casualty of Peterloo. Special constables were already present at the meeting, but no troops. Sixty cavalrymen of the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, led by Captain Hugh Hornby Birley , a local factory owner, arrived at
462-521: A group of 22. Whilst not lawfully excluded from doing so, specials do not carry firearms due to enhanced vetting and the training commitments required. The vast majority of special constables serve with one of the 45 territorial police forces in the United Kingdom. Depending on where they are attested, they have full police powers throughout one of three distinct legal systems - either England and Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland . This
528-476: A line stretching across the eastern end of St Peter's Field, and charged into the crowd. At about the same time the Cheshire Yeomanry charged from the southern edge of the field. At first the crowd had some difficulty in dispersing, as the main exit route into Peter Street was blocked by the 88th Infantry Regiment, standing with bayonets fixed. One officer of the 15th Hussars was heard trying to restrain
594-597: A major role in suppressing the rebellion of 1798, was completely disbanded in 1838. For the next thirty years, the Yeomanry Force was retained as a second line of support for the regular cavalry within Britain. Recruiting difficulties led to serious consideration being given to the disbandment of the entire force in 1870, but instead measures were taken the following year to improve its effectiveness. These included requirements that individual yeomanry troopers attend
660-468: A minimum number of drills per year in return for a "permanent duty" allowance, and that units be maintained at a specific strength. Yeomanry officers and permanent drill instructors were required to undergo training at a newly established School of Instruction and the Secretary of State for War took over responsibility for the force, from individual Lords Lieutenant of counties. While these reforms improved
726-532: A naturally sympathetic audience for a succession of radical organisers and speakers who spoke of electoral reform and alleviating poverty. This radical movement deeply worried many supporters of the Tory party , particularly in northern England. The fear of popular revolt had begun with the American and French revolutions in the late 18th-century. Many Tory supporters, such as mill owners, landowners and tradesmen, saw
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#1732772016646792-754: A number of years been training some of their specials to work with their road policing units (RPU); this has been expanded and some specials with Warwickshire and West Mercia are now working with their force's criminal intercept team. In 1995, special constables from Cheshire Police assisted officers from the Ministry of Defence Police with a surveillance operation at the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Radway Green near Crewe . A number of special constables are trained in public order duties, including policing of football matches and demonstrations. In West Yorkshire Police , 24 specials have received Level 2 PSU ( Police Support Unit ) training, and have become part of
858-415: A range of eventualities such as first aid in case of injury, initial coordination of the security of aircraft crash sites, clearing people from the vicinity of unexploded bombs, handling of unignited incendiary bombs and checking compliance with lighting regulations. Requirements for being a special constable vary from force to force. The recruitment process in Scotland is also significantly different from
924-569: A section 18(1) PACE search and so on. In an operational setting, a special constable whatever their rank or grade has no formal authority over a regular officer in terms of supervision, although occasionally a very experienced senior special officer may informally temporarily oversee inexperienced regular officers. Only the Cheshire Special Constabulary and the Durham Special Constabulary use
990-617: A special in The Great War or "LONG SERVICE (year clasp was issued)" for clasps earned for service after the war. Special Constables are also eligible for other honours and a full list of honours can be found at the List of British Special Constables awarded honours with seven members of the Special Constabulary being awarded MBEs and BEMs in the 2019 New Year Honours. Special Constables are now eligible to receive
1056-506: A sub-unit of a larger unit: In 1907 the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry was established as an all female volunteer organisation to provide a link between field hospitals and the front line, with their primary role being to rescue the wounded, rather than provide nursing care. Because the organisation as initially formed was mounted it adopted the yeomanry name. The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry is an independent charity that
1122-521: Is identical to the jurisdiction granted to regular officers, although prior to 1 April 2007, special constables in England and Wales only had jurisdiction within their force area and any adjacent force areas. Recent changes have seen special constables enjoy the same cross-border powers as regular constables. Special constables of the British Transport Police have exactly the same powers and privileges as regular BTP constables , and
1188-407: Is no basis in law for ranks or grades for special constables. As such there is no equivalency of a regular police sergeant versus a special police sergeant for example. A special constable who is a higher rank or grade has no additional powers or opportunities in the same way as a regular officer. For example, a custody sergeant must be a regular police sergeant. A special inspector cannot authorise
1254-543: Is not part of the Armed Forces, today it provides teams to aid civil agencies. Other uses of yeoman : Special Constabulary The Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer section of statutory police forces in the United Kingdom and some Crown dependencies . Its officers are known as special constables . Every United Kingdom territorial police force has a special constabulary except
1320-543: Is the stereotypical image of a special constable, it only represents one of the wide range of duties undertaken. Many police forces in England and Wales have introduced neighbourhood policing teams and the Special Constabulary has been incorporated into this concept. Many special constables have taken the opportunity to join specialist teams within their constabularies such as marine support , dog units and roads policing. Durham Constabulary , Warwickshire Police , West Mercia Police and Devon and Cornwall Police have for
1386-418: Is to ensure there are enough working pooled radios available in a command area to meet any "surge" need. On 19 May 2022, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that special constables would be able to carry tasers. Prior to this, special constables were not issued or trained to operate tasers. The British Transport Police became the first force to issues tasers to special constables on 27 May 2022, starting
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#17327720166461452-597: The British Army Reserve which are descended from volunteer cavalry regiments that now serve in a variety of different roles. In the 1790s, following the French Revolution and the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte , the perceived threat of invasion of the Kingdom of Great Britain was high. To improve the country's defences, Volunteer regiments were raised in many counties from yeomen . While
1518-504: The Isle of Man Constabulary and the States of Guernsey Police Service also have special constabularies, but the States of Jersey Police does not. Jersey has Honorary Police . The strength of the special constabulary as of September 2018 in England and Wales was 11,343, -12.3% on the previous year. The number of special constables in Scotland in 2018 was 610. Special constables are not
1584-527: The King's Police Medal . On 11 March 2022 HM Queen Elizabeth II approved amendments to the Royal Warrant to expressly state that members of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales were eligible for the medal, with members of the Special Constabulary in Scotland already eligible. The Lord Ferrers' Awards recognise outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing. The awards, previously known as
1650-471: The Police Federation . They are afforded the same representation as "regulars" and are eligible to become representatives, time and schedule permitting. They must also pay the same membership fee, currently £24 per month (Discounted 50% for the first year of service), despite being unpaid volunteers. This membership also allows them benefits such as "Group Insurance" and other associated perks of
1716-659: The Police Service of Northern Ireland , which has a Reserve constituted on different grounds. However, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (and the previous Royal Irish Constabulary ) did have its own Ulster Special Constabulary from 1920 until 1970, when the Reserve was formed. The British Transport Police (a national " special police force ") also has a special constabulary. In the Crown dependencies,
1782-724: The Second Boer War , companies of Imperial Yeomanry were formed to serve overseas from volunteers from the Yeomanry. In 1901, all yeomanry regiments were redesignated as "Imperial Yeomanry", and reorganised. In 1908, the Imperial Yeomanry was merged with the Volunteer Force to form the Territorial Force , of which it became the cavalry arm. The "Imperial" title was dropped at the same time. On
1848-584: The 1980s, specials were often considered to be preventing regular officers from earning overtime pay. A sizeable proportion of regular officers have served as special constables before joining the regular force , which is encouraged by recruitment departments. Most police forces will accept applications from the age of 18; and the minimum age to commence training is 17 years 9 months in Essex Constabulary and 17 years 6 months for Humberside Police . The Association of Special Constabulary Officers
1914-598: The Federation. Membership is not mandatory. Established by Royal Warrant on 30 August 1919, the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal may be earned by special constables after nine years' service, with a clasp issued for each additional period of 10 years. The name and rank of the recipient and the date of the award are engraved on the rim of the medal. The clasp includes the inscription "THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 18" for service as
1980-615: The Operation Target team. There were plans for the Metropolitan Police to have up to 10,000 specials to help with security at the 2012 Olympic Games . This was to be done either through recruitment, with 700 extra specials being employed in the last year or by borrowing them from other forces. While this idea would have created a much safer environment for the Olympic celebrations, the plans came under fire from
2046-512: The SC identity (with or without a crown) to distinguish ranks (and/or role). Wiltshire Special Constabulary is believed to be the only special constabulary within England and Wales to not have a rank structure. Instead, it has special constable section leaders (SCSLs) strategically located around the county. Special constables generally wear identical uniforms to their regular colleagues. In some constabularies, their shoulder number may be prefixed with
Manchester and Salford Yeomanry - Misplaced Pages Continue
2112-594: The Special Constabulary National Strategy 2018-2023 the structure and insignia is under review with the intention to standardise. Special constabulary epaulettes frequently bear the letters "SC" (with or without a crown above) to differentiate them from regular officers. Senior special constables wear the same markings on their hats as equivalent regular ranks. Other special constabularies use combinations of bars, half bars, pips, crowns, laurel wreaths, collar numbers, force crests and
2178-555: The Special Constabulary as a volunteer organisation, and expanded its jurisdiction. The constabulary was redefined for the last time into the organisation which exists today by the Special Constables Act 1914 just after the outbreak of World War I , during which they safeguarded water supplies from German infiltrators. During the Second World War , besides their normal duties, they were trained to deal with
2244-545: The Standard Entrance Test in Scotland), interview, security checks, fitness test and medical assessment although the exact process is force specific. There are currently a total of nine ranks currently in use across the special constabularies. Some of these ranks are rarely in use and special constabularies rarely use more than six ranks. The " NPIA " style rank insignia have a set of only seven ranks. There
2310-555: The Towns and neighborhood of Manchester and Salford". The newspaper noted that government allowances were available for uniforms, and that if neighboring towns formed their own corps they might be later combined. Each man was to provide his own horse. Thomas Trafford , owner of substantial lands in Lancashire and Cheshire, was commissioned as the cavalry's first Major-Commandant on 23 August 1817. As with many yeomanry regiments of
2376-575: The agitation for suffrage as little less than sedition. The Tory party strongly opposed the proposed reforms. On 10 March 1817, about 5,000 people met in St Peter's Field in central Manchester, aiming to march to London to set their grievances before the Prince Regent . Each person carried a rug or blanket, leading them to be named Blanketeers . The march was quickly suppressed, but Manchester Tories worried that they lacked protection from
2442-495: The amalgamation of some pairs of yeomanry regiments. There was a major reduction in reserve forces in 1967 with the formation of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve; all existing yeomanry regiments were reduced to squadron, company or battery sub-units. A number of further reorganisations have taken place since then. In the current Army Reserve , several remnants of former Yeomanry regiments are still serving, usually as
2508-574: The appointment of Special Constables, and for the better preservation of the Police" . This Act, forming the basis of special-constable principles to the modern day, and in particular allowed the formation of special constables outside of times of unrest, if the regular police force was deemed to be too small in a particular area. Specials were also granted full powers of arrest like their regular counterparts at this time, as well as weapons and equipment to carry out their duty. A further act in 1835 redefined
2574-498: The assembled crowd that followed. The route towards the hustings between the special constables was narrow, and as the inexperienced horses were thrust further and further into the crowd they reared and plunged as people tried to get out of their way. The arrest warrant had been given to the Deputy Constable, Joseph Nadin, who followed behind the yeomanry. As the cavalry pushed towards the speakers' stand they became stuck in
2640-415: The banners and flags carried by the crowd. From his vantage point William Hulton perceived the unfolding events as an assault on the yeomanry, and on L'Estrange's arrival at 1:50 pm, at the head of his hussars, he ordered them into the field to disperse the crowd with the words: "Good God, Sir, don't you see they are attacking the Yeomanry; disperse the meeting!" The 15th Hussars formed themselves into
2706-427: The by now out of control Manchester and Salford Yeomanry, who were "cutting at every one they could reach": "For shame! For shame! Gentlemen: forbear, forbear! The people cannot get away!" Within ten minutes the crowd was dispersed, at the cost of at least 11 dead and over 600 injured. The government and landowners viewed the yeomanry's actions at Peterloo as a courageous defence against insurrection. Following
Manchester and Salford Yeomanry - Misplaced Pages Continue
2772-425: The civil power over the previous decade. A number of independent troops were also dissolved. Following these reductions, the yeomanry establishment was fixed at 22 corps (regiments) receiving allowances and a further 16 serving without pay. During the 1830s, the number of yeomanry units fluctuated, reflecting the level of civil unrest in any particular region at any particular time. The Irish Yeomanry, which had played
2838-449: The crowd, and in panic started to hack about them with their sabres. On his arrival at the stand Nadin arrested Hunt, Johnson and a number of others including John Tyas, the reporter from The Times . According to Tyas the yeomanry's progress through the crowd had provoked a hail of bricks and stones, and caused them to lose "all command of temper". Their mission to execute the arrest warrant having been achieved, they then set about destroying
2904-445: The differences. In some forces protective vests, or body armour, may be personally issued to an officer, made to measure, however many other forces cannot afford this practice and instead the use of pool sets is prevalent. The same practice is also seen with regard to radios: although many forces provide special constables with personal radios kept securely at their police station, other forces may only have pool sets. The management task
2970-515: The end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815, many textile workers in the newly industrialised towns of northern England lost their jobs as a result of an economic slump connected to the reduced need for matériel . Even for those still employed, rising food prices made life very difficult. At the same time, writers such as William Cobbett were denouncing the inequity of the electoral system, as evidenced by rotten boroughs . Poor mill workers were
3036-469: The eve of World War I in 1914, there were 55 Yeomanry regiments (with two more formed in August 1914), each of four squadrons instead of the three of the regular cavalry. Upon embodiment, these regiments were either brought together to form mounted brigades or allocated as divisional cavalry. For purposes of recruitment and administration, the Yeomanry were linked to specific counties or regions, identified in
3102-504: The first half of the nineteenth century, Yeomanry Regiments were used extensively in support of the civil authority to quell riots and civil disturbances, including the Peterloo Massacre ; as police forces were created and took over this role, the Yeomanry concentrated on local defence. In 1827, it was decided for financial reasons to reduce the number of yeomanry regiments, disbanding those that had not been required to assist
3168-481: The hostile masses. This fear spurred a petition with more than 100 signatures to "the Boroughreeves and Constables of Manchester and Salford" demanding a meeting to establish a yeomanry corps. The constables organized the meeting for 19 June 1817. Wheeler's Manchester Chronicle reported that those present resolved "that under the present circumstances it is expedient to form a body of Yeomanry Cavalry in
3234-485: The house from where the magistrates were watching; some reports allege that they were drunk. Andrews, the Chief Constable, instructed Birley that he had an arrest warrant which he needed assistance to execute. Birley was asked to take his cavalry to the hustings to allow the speakers to be removed; it was by then about 1:40 pm. Major Trafford himself appears not to have been present for the disastrous attack on
3300-624: The magistrates are assembled. They consider the Civil Power wholly inadequate to preserve the peace. I have the honour, & c. Wm. Hulton. The notes were handed to two horsemen standing by. The Manchester and Salford Yeomanry were stationed just a short distance away in Portland Street, and so received their note first. Trafford dispatched 116 officers and men of the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry who immediately drew their swords and galloped towards St Peter's Field. One trooper, in
3366-411: The massacre, on 27 August 1819, Lord Sidmouth sent a message of thanks from the Prince Regent to Major Trafford, among others. However, public horror at the actions of the yeomanry grew after the massacre. Major Trafford resigned his commission in 1820, and the yeomanry corps was disbanded on 9 June 1824. Yeomanry Yeomanry is a designation used by a number of units and sub-units in
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#17327720166463432-402: The overall military commander in Manchester, were sent notes by the chairman of the Lancashire and Cheshire Magistrates, local coalowner William Hulton , urging them to dispatch troops to a public meeting on voting reform being addressed by the orator Henry Hunt . Sir, as chairman of the select committee of magistrates, I request you to proceed immediately to no. 6 Mount Street, where
3498-481: The police federation, which said that "volunteer special constables could drop out at the last minute, causing significant staffing problems". After the security firm G4S failed to hire enough security staff, the government called in 3,500 additional military personnel to cover the shortfall. Historically, special constables were often looked down upon by regular officers and resented, as they were sometimes seen as "hobby bobbies" and not proper police officers. During
3564-576: The process in England and Wales. It can take from as few as six to as many as eighteen months from initial application through to attestation where recruits take the police oath . A number of different steps are involved in the recruitment process and the order can vary from force to force. The first part of the process usually involves completing an application form. After that, there may be a combination of entrance test (the Police Initial Recruitment Test in England and Wales or
3630-429: The professionalism of the Yeomanry Force, numbers remained low (only 10,617 in 1881). In 1876, the role of the Yeomanry Force was fixed as that of light cavalry . During the previous decades, horse artillery troops had been raised to be attached to a number of yeomanry regiments and dismounted detachments appeared where horses were not available in sufficient numbers. These supernumerary units were now abolished. During
3696-686: The regimental title. Some of the units still in existence in 1914 dated back to those created in the 1790s, while others had been created during a period of expansion following on the Boer War. After the First World War, the Territorial Force was disbanded and later reformed and redesignated as the Territorial Army . Following the experience of the war, only the fourteen senior yeomanry regiments retained their horses, with
3762-555: The rest being re-designated as armoured car companies , artillery , engineers , or signals . Two regiments were disbanded. The converted units retained their yeomanry traditions, with some artillery regiments having individual batteries representing different yeomanry units. On the eve of the Second World War in 1939, the Territorial Army was doubled in size, with duplicate units formed; this led to some regiments being de-amalgamated. The last mounted regiment of yeomanry
3828-414: The same as police community support officers (PCSOs), who are employed by police forces to provide operational support to regular officers. Special constables usually work for a minimum number of hours per month (depending on the force – the national minimum is 16 hours), although many do considerably more. Special constables might receive some expenses and allowances from the police service, including
3894-443: The same cross-border powers. BTP special constables do not wear the distinctive "SC" insignia on their epaulettes. They work across England, Wales and Scotland and will often parade on at their home station and work 40 to 80 miles away from it. As well as patrol duties, special constables often take part in response duties and specials often police events such as sports matches, carnivals, parades and fêtes . While this event policing
3960-671: The special chief superintendent rank within the force. Within the City of London Special Constabulary is the Honourable Artillery Company Specials, provided by the Honourable Artillery Company ; members of this unit wear HAC on the shoulders in addition to other insignia. There is a large variation in the design of epaulettes used across Great Britain for special constables. This has been recognised at national level and as part of
4026-1362: The time, it was a relatively inexperienced militia recruited from among shopkeepers and tradesmen. A notice in the London Gazette on 6 October 1818 listed the appointment of officers to the corps over the past year. Commissions in the Manchester and Salford Yeomanry Cavalry, signed by the Lord Lieutenant of the County Palatine of Lancaster . Thomas Joseph Trafford, Esq. to be Major-Commandant. Dated 23d August 1817. Robert Josias Jackson Nomeys, Esq. to be Captain. Dated 30 September 1817. Hugh Hornby Birley, Esq. to be ditto. Dated as above. Robert Hindley, Esq. to be ditto. Dated as above. Richard Jones Withington, Esq. to be Lieutenant. Dated as above. Edward Vigor Fox, Esq. to be ditto. Dated as above. Richard Simpson, Esq. to be dito. Dated 17 April 1818. Josiah Kearsley, Esq. to be Cornet. Dated 30 September 1817. Thomas Heywood, Esq. to be ditto. Dated as above. Edward Milne, Esq. to be ditto. Dated 17 April 1818. Thomas Ollier, Gent. to be Surgeon. Dated 5 December 1817. On 16 August 1819, Major Trafford and Lieutenant Colonel Guy L'Estrange,
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#17327720166464092-477: The word "yeoman" in normal use meant a small farmer who owned his land, Yeomanry officers were drawn from the nobility or the landed gentry, and many of the men were the officers' tenants or had other forms of obligation to the officers. At its formation, the force was referred to as the Yeomanry Cavalry . Members of the yeomanry were not obliged to serve overseas without their individual consent. During
4158-418: Was coupled with falling living standards and starvation . In 1819, mass meetings calling for parliamentary reform took place across England, including 60,000 demonstrators rioting in Manchester where a special constable was killed. In light of these events, in 1820, an Act was passed allowing magistrates to recruit men as special constables. In 1831, Parliament passed "An act for amending the laws relative to
4224-495: Was established as a registered charity to represent special constables in relation to terms and conditions and representation at various Home Office and College of Policing boards. ASCO has also represented special constables for welfare issues and supported them as a 'police friend' in misconduct cases. Having previously not been allowed to join, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 now allows Special Constables to join
4290-415: Was in response to rising public disorder relating to enforcement of religious conformity, and any citizen refusing to acknowledge the call would have been subject to fines and jail sentences. The 1673 act was enforced for centuries after, mainly used to call up constables in the north of England. Public disorder of that nature was renewed during the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, which
4356-631: Was the Queen's Own Yorkshire Dragoons , who were converted to an armoured role in March 1942, and later converted into an infantry battalion of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry —KOYLI. Volunteers from the Yeomanry served in the Long Range Desert Group from 1940 through to 1943, incorporated into "Y Patrol". There were reductions in the size of the TA in both 1957 and 1961, which led to
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