Under
the new Police Force, permanent Police Constables who had proper uniform
and duties were based around the county. With no local senior officers
to guide them they took their orders from the local Justices of the Peace.
They must have walked many miles in the course of their duties, patrolling
the villages in the area.
One of the first policemen to serve
in the county was Police Constable Thomas Jones.
He was based at Llanerfyl, but frequently came into Llanfair to help on
market day.
Like all policemen, he was required to keep a Journal or diary of what
he did each day. Every now and again a sergeant would visit him to check
his notebook to see if he was doing his duty. His journal can tell us
much about policing in the 1840's.
(See also pages on his time at Machynlleth
and Llanidloes)
