Winchester City Police

With the Second World War well underway, the British government felt that the south coast would be best served by larger forces. Therefore, under the 1942 Defence (Amalgamation of Police Forces) Regulations, the Home Office forced Winchester to join with Hampshire Constabulary. This was meant to be a temporary measure and Winchester would be able to split from Hampshire at the end of the war: nothing really changed with the running of the force, and the officers kept their rank and uniforms except for the Head Constable, who became a superintendent and answered to the Chief Constable of Hampshire instead of the Watch Committee of Winchester. However, the Police Act 1946 made the situation permanent, and by 1947 the city force was properly absorbed into the county force with the issue of Hampshire badges and insignia. ==List of chief officers==

• 1832 – Inspector Robert Buchanan (previously served in the Metropolitan Police) • 1833 – William Shepherd (born 1802, Oxford) (previously served in the Metropolitan Police) • 1851 – Superintendent Henry Hubbersty (born 1813, London) (previously served in the Metropolitan Police and Norfolk Constabulary) • 1872 – Head Constable William Morton (born 1843, Westminster) (previously served in the Metropolitan Police) • 1893 – Head Constable William George Felton (born 1856, Alresford) (joined the Winchester City Police in 1876) • 1909 – Head Constable John Sim (born 1875) (previously served in the North Riding of Yorkshire Constabulary and Leeds City Police) • 1924 – Head Constable William George Stratton (born 1882, Salisbury) (worked on the London and South Western Railway before joining Winchester City Police in 1900) • 1942 – Head Constable Harry Reuben Miles (previously in Reigate Borough Police and as an inspector in Winchester from 1925) == References ==