20th century City of Glasgow Police

david kirkwood being detained police during battle of george square

in 1904 force appointed first chief inspector of detectives, , first detective constables appointed. old central police office in south albion street closed , new central police office in turnbull street opened headquarters of glasgow police on 23 march 1906.

on 5 november 1912, act of parliament, boundaries of city again extended , force merged govan , partick burgh police.

in first world war 300 glasgow police officers enlisted in armed forces. result, force employed 400 temporary constables , increased special constabulary 3000 guard strategic buildings , factories within city. in 1915, chief constable ordered policemen desist enlisting in armed forces due depletion of force.

the force discussed appointment of policewomen , on 6 september, miss emily miller appointed glasgow s first policewoman. @ end of war, of 748 glasgow policemen had enlisted, 112 had been killed , further 33 reported missing presumed killed.

in january 1919, thousands of striking shipyard , engineering workers marched on corporation power station in eddington street, port dundas. in furtherance of strike, gathered in george square on 31 january , riot ensued, known 1919 battle of george square. riot act read had little effect. night of further rioting followed resulted in army being called assist police. following morning, tanks deployed in george square , machine gun crews occupied roofs of buildings overlooking it.

in 1931, cuts in government benefits lead marches unemployed , riots in glasgow green, saltmarket, , jail square. fifty-one men arrested.

glasgow s first radio patrol car system put operation in may 1936.

in 1939, on outbreak of second world war, glasgow police prepared , established air raid precautions service. many serving police officers joined armed forces. in 1942 chief constable sillitoe knighted , resigned in 1943 take command of kent constabulary.

in 1975, city of glasgow police, lanarkshire constabulary, renfrew , bute constabulary, dunbartonshire constabulary, argyll county police, ayrshire constabulary , small portion of stirling , clackmannan police, amalgamated create strathclyde police.