Before the creation of the Radnorshire
Constabulary there was no real police force in
the county.
Each parish had a constable, and each group of parishes had a chief constable.
None of these men were paid or had any training. They had to do their
duties as well as their own jobs,
so you can imagine that not many people wanted to be a constable.
They served for one year without
pay, and often were not allowed to finish their duties by the courts unless
they could list three men who had not served as a constable for ten years.
From this list a replacement would be chosen.
This was so unpopular that the Chief Constable of Knighton
ran away rather than
do his duties !
From the 1840s the government allowed counties
to set up a proper county police force or constabulary. Montgomeryshire
set up such a force, but Radnorshire didn't. It did employ Special Constables
to oversee these local parish constables, though.
These were the first paid policemen
in Radnorshire.
