Books

From Fruit Trees to Furnaces: A History of the Worcestershire Constabulary

Bob Pooler (2002)

Tracing the history of the Worcestershire Constabulary from its formation in 1839 until it joined the Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcester City Police forces to make up West Mercia Constabulary.

There are limited copies available here.

The Spike

Worcester City Police

The lives, the crimes, the violent times

Part 1 1833-1900

Bob Blandford (2016)

DETAILING 120 murders, profiles of 250 criminals, persistent drunks and good-time girls, a new book is already being viewed as the most colourful – and controversial – history of the city ever written.

Ex-journalist turned top-selling author Bob Blandford’s latest book The Spike contains hundreds of never-before-seen archive photographs and a profile of every known officer, from the Watchmen days to the dawn of the 20th century.

Part one available from many local and national outlets

Part two covering the years up to the amalgamation with three other forces to form West Mercia Police in October 1967 is expected to be published in the future.

A History of Worcester City Police 1833-1967

Colin Glover (1967)

Published to mark the amalgamation in 1967, its focus is procedures and corporate issues. It contains a list of many of the officers who served in the City force and a number of rare photographs.

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.

Celebrating 100 years since the creation of Dudley Borough Police

Corinne Brazier & Inspector Steve Rice (2020)

A special booklet produced to celebrate 100 years since the creation of Dudley Borough Police back in 1920. As the last borough force to be created in the West Midlands, it was short lived before being merged with other local forces to create West Midlands Constabulary in 1966 and eventually forming part of West Midlands Police in 1974, but it has a very proud history.

The booklet is 48 pages including many pictures of the fantastic architecture of former police stations in the borough and a range of officers who have served there going back to when Worcestershire Constabulary had responsibility for the area.

Copies available from The West Midlands Police Museum

Dudley Borough Police: 1920-1966 A Personal Account

Basil J Bradford (1988)

A brief account of the career of the author with reference to changes in the Borough force and wider policing. Includes a number of rare photographs.

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.

Policing Shropshire 1836 - 1967

Douglas J. Elliott (1984)

Year by Year Account of the Shropshire Constabulary and the Police Forces of the Boroughs of Bridgnorth, Ludlow, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Wenlock before they merged with Worcester Police, Worcestershire Constabulary and Herefordshire Constabulary

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.

Herefordshire Constabulary, 1857-1967

Vera Hadley (1999)

A pictorial history of the forces that made up the Herefordshire Constabulary before they merged with Worcester Police, Worcestershire Constabulary and Shropshire Constabulary

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.

Policing Hereford and Leominster

Gordon Forrest and Ted Hadley (1989)

An illustrated history of the City of Hereford Police from 1835 to 1947 and Leominster Borough Police from 1836 to 1889

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.

Policing West Mercia 1967 to 1988

David J. Smith (1989)

A pictorial history of the first 21 years of the West Mercia Police Force.

Long out of print, copies do occasionally appear at book shops or online.