Police (personnel)
Please note police personnel records are often subject to access conditions. If the record you wish to view is less than 100 years old you are advised to contact the relevant office to discuss access in advance of your visit.
County Forces:
West Riding Constabulary (ref. WYP1) 1856-1968
Created in 1856 the force was originally divided into 31 police districts within the county. In 1928 the first patrol car made an appearance and a Road Traffic Division was created in 1938 - a driving school being established in Wakefield in 1944. Women first joined the force in 1925.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Civilian staff, index, appointments and resignations registers | c1946-1974 | WYP1/WYAS907/34-36 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Conduct book of Otley Division | 1857-1912 | WYP1/A83/16 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Conduct book | 1904-1913 | WYP1/A299/78 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Examination books (with index) | 1856-1913 | WYP1/A139/1-22 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Ex-police and civilians resignation books (indexed) | 1942-1980 | WYP3/WYAS1695/4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| List of officers | 1895 | WYP1/A66/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| List of recruits sent for training courses | 1946-1983 | WYP1/A366/49 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Long service and good conduct medals register | 1931-1968 | WYP1/A486/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Long service and good conduct medals files | 1951-1969 | WYP1/A136/13-18 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Names of police, divisions and entry dates | 1930-1952 | WYP1/A295/29 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Obituaries, index to | 1937-1997 | WYP | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Officers posting book | 1952-1963 | WYP1/A250/34 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Personnel files (A-Z) | 1940-1973 | WYP1/A295/23 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Police payroll records L-Y (includes officers retired, resigned and suspended 1975-1976) | 1940s-1970s | WYP3/WYAS1695/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register of Constables | 1891 | WYP1/A15/79 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register of Declarations by probationary officers (2 items) | 1891 | WYP1/A238/63-64 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register of personnel leaving service | 1949-1975 | WYP1/WYAS907/32 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Seniority list of Officers and men (indexed) | 1891-1935 | WYP1/A139/25 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Seniority list of Officers and men | 1935-1968 | WYP1/A299/81 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, reports and memoranda regarding officers serving with the armed forces | 1914-1918 | WYP1/A15/82 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, Register of European war casualties | 1914-1922 | WYP1/A139/24 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWII, Register of European war casualties | 1941-1947 | WYP1/A139/24 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWII, record of allowance for officers called up for military service (indexed and includes military details) | 1919-1941 | WYP1/WYAS1698/8 | WYAS: Wakefield |
West Yorkshire Constabulary (ref. WYP2) 1968-1974
Formed following the Police Act of 1964, amalgamating the West Riding Constabulary with the 6 borough forces of Barnsley, Dewsbury, Doncaster, Halifax, Huddersfield and Wakefield.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Ex-police and civilian resignation book (indexed - included officers from West Yorkshire Constabulary) | 1942-1980 | WYP3/WYAS1695/4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| List of officers | 1971-1973 | WYP2/A191/82 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Nominal roll arranged under division | 1 Jul 1968 | WYP2/A66/12 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Nominal roll arranged under division | 1 Jan 1969 | WYP2/A66/13 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Obituaries, index to | 1937-1997 | WYP2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Police payroll records L-Y (all retired, resigned and suspended officers 1975-1976) | 1940s-1970s | WYP3/WYAS1695/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Roll of officers transferred to other forces 1st April 1974 | c1974 | WYP2/WYAS908/15 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Seniority list of officers index book | 1968-1992 | WYP2/A428/16 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Seniority list of officers book (listed by date of appointment) | 1968-1992 | WYP2/A428/17 | WYAS: Wakefield |
West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police (ref. WYP3) 1974-1986
Created in 1974 following the Local Government Act 1972. Amalgamated from the West Yorkshire Constabulary with Leeds City Police and Bradford City Police.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Applications for appointment as Constable | c1970-1980 | WYP3/A295/88 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Civilian, joining and resignations | 1973-1977 | WYP3/WYAS1695/5 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Civilians register - Headquarters (mostly 1970s-1980s) | 1941-1980 | WYP3/A487/2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Civilians register - Divisions (mostly 1970s-1980s) | 1946-1980 | WYP3/A487/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Force register (in collar no. order) | 1974-1986 | WYP3/A487/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Lists of officers | Jan 1974-Dec 1985 | WYP3/A366/114/1-28 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| List of Senior Officers (no personal details given) | SEp 1974 | WYP3/A464/2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Personnel records (1 envelope) | 1978-1985 | WYP3/A295/85 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Police payroll records, L-Y (all retired, resigned or suspended 1975-1976) | 1940s-1970s | WYP3/WYAS1695/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Resignation book, police | 1975-1988 | WYP3/WYAS1695/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Resignation book, ex-police and civilians (indexed - includes WYMP) | 1942-1980 | WYP3/WYAS1695/4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
West Yorkshire Police (ref. WYP4) 1986-present
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| List of officers | May 1986 | WYP4/A366/89 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Obituaries, index to (includes West Riding and West Yorkshire Police) | 1937-1997 | WYP4/WYAS910/24 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Pobationary Constables appointed | May-Aug 1993 | WYP4/A428/18 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Seniority list of officers index book | 1968-1992 | WYP4/A428/16-17 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Borough Forces:
Barnsley Borough Police
Very few records have been deposited at WYAS.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Applications for appointment as Constable | c1930-1960 | WYPX/A295/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Certificate book (contains appointments including name, personal description etc) | c1904-1962 | WYPX/2/A450/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Disciplinary book (no.2 Staincross Divisional - indexed) | 1920-1952 | WYPX/2/A450/2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Disciplinary report book (unknown division - indexed) | 1928-1968 | WYPX/2/A450/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Bradford City Police (ref. WYP/BR) 1848-1974
Bradford became a borough in 1847 when the watch committee first sought full time officers. The force came to prominence in the area of fingerprinting evidence in 1903 and within wireless history for motorcycle transmission in 1934.
Bradford City Police became part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary (now West Yorkshire Police) in 1974.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Applications for appointments as Constables | c1920-1960 | WYP/BR/A295/2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Commendations and promotions book, includes dates of appointments c1896-1967 | c1896-1989 | WYP/BR/A299/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Complaints register | 1942-1972 | WYP/BR/A238/32 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Defaulters book, PC1-PC229 | 1870s-1898 | WYP/BR/A250/4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Disciplinary books (no index) | 1883-1896 | WYP/BR/A250/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Examination books (indexed) | 1897-1911 | WYP/BR/A250/1-2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Ex-police personnel files | c1940-1973 | WYP/BR/A295/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Fire and Ambulance Service, photographs | 1856-1956 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Force members pocket book, printed list of force personnel at this date (including fire brigade members) | 1891 | WYP/BR/WYAS905/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Long and Good service books | 1949-1974 | WYP/BR/WYAS905/11 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Mounted Police, photographs | c1900-1970s | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Newspaper cuttings, miscellaneous items and collections | c1898-1997 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Officers and Constables, register of | 1891-c1949 | WYP/BR/A124/138 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Pensions and retired officers | 1948-1974 | WYP/BR/A430/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs (individuals), not all officers have been identified | c1870-1974 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs (groups), not all groups have been unidentified | c1900-1974 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs (recreation), sports clubs, societies and police band etc | c1900-1974 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Special Constables, certificates, papers and photographs etc | c1919-c1970 | WYP/BR | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Dewsbury Borough Police (ref. WYP/DE) 1862-1968
The Dewsbury Police force was created after the town had been granted a Charter of Incorporation in 1862. It became part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary in 1968.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Examination of candidates for appointment as Constables | 1914-1953 | WYP/DE/KA235/18-19 | WYAS: Kirklees |
| Ex-police personnel files | c1940-1973 | WYP/DE/A295/5 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs of police force | 1910-1934 | WYP/DE/A250/21 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs, various items including photos of individuals and groups | c1922-1968 | WYP/DE | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Policemen, history and conduct books | 1873-1950 | WYP/DE/KA235/21-22 | WYAS: Kirklees |
| Policemen, medical history book | 1895-1952 | WYP/DE/KA235/20 | WYAS: Kirklees |
| World War I, names and details of officers killed (in West Yorkshire Police collection) | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Halifax Borough Police (ref. WYP/HA) 1848-1968
Established when the town was granted its Royal Charter in 1848. The Halifax Borough Police became part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary in 1968.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Applications for appointments as constables | 1920s-1950s | WYP/HA/A295/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Civilian personnel files, A-Z | nd | WYP/HA/A295/8 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Complaints reports not entered on misconduct form | 1933-1968 | WYP/HA/A438/2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Discipline book, indexed | 1943-1968 | WYP/HA/A438/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| 'Off strength lists' officers files | 1967-1968 | WYP/HA/A295/13 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Personnel files, A-Y | nd | WYP/HA/A295/7 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Police force, register of - alphabetically arranged, no index | 1853-1967 | WYP/HA/A193/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Huddersfield Borough Police (ref. WYP/HU) 1868-1968
Huddersfield's Improvement Commissioners had appointed police officers from 1848. In 1868 the township became a County Borough and the area of the force was extended to take in parts of the county constabulary. The original headquarters were replaced by new premises in Peel Street in 1896.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Applications for appointment as constable | c1910-1960 | WYP/HU/A295/14 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Constables' certificate book | 1946-1968 | WYP/HU/A366/34-35 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Constables' record book no.1, indexed | 1891-1956 | WYP/HU/A147/4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Constables' record book no.2, indexed | 1946-1957 | WYP/HU/A147/5 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Declaration book | 1948-1955 | WYP/HU/A366/32-33 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Declaration book | 1956-1962 | WYP/HU/A431/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Defaulters and record book | c1860-1918 | WYP/HU/A83/72 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Newcuttings books | 1944-1973 | WYP/HU/A147/25-30 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Pictoral album of Huddersfield Borough Police | 1834-1968 | WYP/HU/WYAS904/9 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs, various (53 items) | nd | WYP/HU/A460/13 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Sickness register (HQ 9332) | 1951-1968 | WYP/HU/A197/6 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| World War I, names and details of officers killed (in West Yorkshire Police collection) | 1914-1918 | WYP4 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Leeds City Police (ref. WYP/LE) 1836-1974
Leeds City Police was the first force established in West Yorkshire. The basic Leeds Police uniform was adapted from the London Metropolitan Police uniform. Up to 1903 mounted duties were carried out by members of the fire brigade. In 1903 a new mounted detachment was inaugurated.
Leeds City Police became part of the West Yorkshire Constabulary (now West Yorkshire Police) in 1974.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| 'A' Division, register of Constables | 1901-c1956 | WYP/LE/A90/196 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Applications for appointment as constable | c1910-1960 | WYP/LE/A295/15 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Chief inspectors and inspectors | 1946-1974 | WYP/LE/A429/6/1-2 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| CID personnel records | 1900s-1960s | WYP/LE/A299/44 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Conduct books, (Constables) with indexes | 1833-1920 | WYP/LE/A83 and A137 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Conduct books, (Officers) with index | 1869-1919 | WYP/LE/A137 and A90 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Constables' personnel books with index | 1951-1974 | WYP/LE/A429/3/1-11 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Constables' personnel books, no index | 1970s | WYP/LE/A429/4/1-8 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Dead files (nos. 76-1460) with card index | nd | WYP/LE/A295/26 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Personnel records sheets with index | 1920-1950 | WYP/LE/A137/267-270 and WYP/LE/A299/45 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Personnel files | nd | WYP/LE/A295/16 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Police sergants' personnel books | nd | WYP/LE/A429/5/1-3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register, giving description of applicants, personal details and date of appointment (indexed) | 1833-1935 | WYP/LE/A137/254 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Resignations register, indexed (includes list of Chief Constables 1859-1967) | 1912-1967 | WYP/LE/A137/265 | |
| Resignation files | 1952-1974 | WYP/LE/A295/25 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell | 1914-1918 | WYP4/WYAS2490 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Widows' files (A-Z) | nd | WYP/LE/A295/24 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Wakefield Borough/City Police (ref. WYP/WA) 1848-1968
Wakefield City Police force was established after the town had been granted a Charter of Incorporation in 1848. The original Police Station and lock-up was condemned in 1876 and new premises built. Records survival for this force is poor.
Wakefield Police became part of West Yorkshire Constabulary in 1968.
| Description | Dates | Reference | Repository |
| Alphabetical list of force members | 1848-1968 | WYP/WA/WYAS914 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Lower Agbrigg (no.1) division, disciplinary book | 1920-1952 | WYP/WA/A191/37 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Miscellaneous papers including some personnel records HQ9653 | 1902-1958 | WYP/WA/A160/225 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Officers of Wakefield City who resigned or retired prior to amalgamation in 1968 | pre 1968 | WYP/WA/A295/22 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Photographs, last group of police staff | 1968 | WYP/WA/WYAS2490/3 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Record and defaulters book (indexed - dates re appointment) | 1852-1922 | WYP/WA/A72/166 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register of officers and constables (indexed) | 1852-1922 | WYP/WA/A72/166 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Register of special constables | 1911-1932 | WYP/WA/A160/230 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| Special constables, press cuttings relating to | 1940-1945, 1966 | WYP/WA/A160/231 | WYAS: Wakefield |
| WWI, names and details of officers who fell during | 1914-1914 | WYP/WA/WYAS2490/1 | WYAS: Wakefield |
Categories: