Plymouth City Police was the city force for Portsmouth, Hampshire from 1836 to 1967.
The history of crime prevention in Portsmouth dates back to the 13th Century. Parish constables are again recorded in 1435, 1531 and 1621. By the early 18th century the city had 155 public houses, a number that was to grow steadily as the Royal Navy presence in the town grew ever larger.
At a meeting on 25 January 1836 a committee was formed to decide on the size of the city's own police service. The first officers were sworn in on 18 March that year. The initial strength was 40 men.
1850: in August there was a three-day riot in Portsea between soldiers of the 50th Regiment of Foot and seamen of HMS Fox.
1861: in March a massive fire broke out at a travelling circus in the early hours. As well as rescuing nearly all the animals and dousing the flames, the police had to hold back an ever growing crowd!
1874: in August The Southsea Pier Company, having barred the way to the rival, Southsea Baths & Rooms, comes under sustained attack from irate bathers.
1903: in July the police demonstrate their new fire tender to the curious public. It skids in Park Road and crashes into an oncoming tram.
1914: in June a lady addressing a Suffragette rally is chased into a taxi. A group of men lift the taxi bodily into the air before the police arrive to restore order.
1932: in April a bank clerk and messenger were assaulted in Edinburgh Road and £23,477 stolen. The men were caught and sentenced to imprisonment plus "the cat".
1941: in January Portsmouth Guildhall is blitzed and the force's headquarters are re-located to a former girls' school in Southsea.
On 31 March 1967 the force ceased to exist. The final strength was 550 people.
