Lincolnshire Police
Encyclopedia
Lincolnshire Police is the territorial police force
covering the non-metropolitan county of Lincolnshire
in the East Midlands
of England
. Despite the name, the force's area does not include North Lincolnshire
and North East Lincolnshire
, which are covered by Humberside Police
instead.
In terms of geographic area the force is one of the largest in the United Kingdom
covering 2,284 square miles. The population of the area covered by the force is 646,000. As of 2010 the force currently employs over 2,500 people. Of this number there are 1,219 police officers, 1,162 police staff and 154 special constables.
. Several other borough police forces used to exist in the county, but these were eventually combined with the Lincolnshire force. Under the Police Act 1946
, Boston Borough Police and Grantham Borough Police were merged, while Lincoln City Police and Grimsby Borough Police were absorbed under the Police Act 1964
. Lincolnshire lost part of its area to the new Humberside Police
in 1974.
In 1965, the force had an establishment of 918 officers and an actual strength of 883.
Proposals made by the Home Secretary
on 20 March 2006 would have seen the force merge with the other four East Midlands
forces to form a strategic police force for the entire region. These proposals were ended by John Reid
in June 2006. The police authority received £287,600 from the Home Office
for costs of preparing the ill-fated merger.
In 2008 the Lincolnshire Police Authority experienced a funding crisis. The authority claimed that the central government grant was insufficient to provide efficient policing in Lincolnshire, due to the unfavourable working of the formula used by the government to assess police grants. The authority decided to reduce the shortfall by making a 79% increase in its precept (the portion of Council Tax
payable to the Police Authority). The government then announced its intention to "cap" this demand, resulting in a net 26% increase.
is Richard Crompton. Lincolnshire Police Authority
has 9 councillors, 3 justices of the peace, and 5 independent members.
Lincolnshire Police has an establishment of about 1,200 police officers. The force has just had major changes to its organisation; divisions have gone and front line officers are organised into Neigbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) and Response (area cars).
Previously there were 3 "divisions" (West, East, & South) with Lincoln, Skegness, and Grantham hosting the divisional headquarters of each. The county
is now divided into four "districts" for the purposes of policing. This as of 1 June 2011. These are Lincoln & West Lindsey (covering Lincoln
, Gainsborough
, Market Rasen
), North & South Kesteven (covering Grantham
, Sleaford
, North Hykeham, Bracebridge Heath, Market Deeping, Bourne and Stamford
), Coast & Wolds (covering Skegness
, Mablethorpe
, Louth
and Horncastle), Boston & South Holland (covering Boston
, Spalding
, Holbeach, and Sutton Bridge). These areas effectively pair 2 district/borough council areas to one policing district.
The force currently has round the clock armed response vehicles manned by Roads Policing Officers (RPU). Front line officers in Lincolnshire also carry Tasar which is in addition to C/S spray.
Officers from Lincolnshire are also detached to EMSOU, East Midlands Special Operations unit. The force has its own underwater search unit which is manned by officers from across the force.
Officers and Police Staff forming these departments are based across the county, but most having their main office at Force Headquarters in Nettleham.
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
covering the non-metropolitan county of Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
in the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Despite the name, the force's area does not include North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire
North Lincolnshire is a unitary authority area in the region of Yorkshire and the Humber in England. For ceremonial purposes it is part of Lincolnshire....
and North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire
North East Lincolnshire is a unitary authority in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, bordering the unitary authority of North Lincolnshire and the administrative county of Lincolnshire...
, which are covered by Humberside Police
Humberside Police
Humberside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing an area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, the city of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire...
instead.
In terms of geographic area the force is one of the largest in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
covering 2,284 square miles. The population of the area covered by the force is 646,000. As of 2010 the force currently employs over 2,500 people. Of this number there are 1,219 police officers, 1,162 police staff and 154 special constables.
History
Lincolnshire Constabulary was formed in 1856 under the County and Borough Police Act 1856County and Borough Police Act 1856
The County and Borough Police Act 1856 was an Act of Parliament passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Act made it compulsory for a police force to be established in any county which had not previously formed a constabulary....
. Several other borough police forces used to exist in the county, but these were eventually combined with the Lincolnshire force. Under the Police Act 1946
Police Act 1946
The Police Act 1946 was an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that provided for the amalgamation of smaller borough police forces with county constabularies in England and Wales, allowed for the merger of county forces in certain circumstances and changed the boundaries of...
, Boston Borough Police and Grantham Borough Police were merged, while Lincoln City Police and Grimsby Borough Police were absorbed under the Police Act 1964
Police Act 1964
The Police Act 1964 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that updated the legislation governing police forces in England and Wales, constituted new police authorities, gave the Home Secretary new powers to supervise local constabularies, and allowed for the amalgamation of existing...
. Lincolnshire lost part of its area to the new Humberside Police
Humberside Police
Humberside Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing an area covering the East Riding of Yorkshire, the city of Kingston upon Hull, North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire...
in 1974.
In 1965, the force had an establishment of 918 officers and an actual strength of 883.
Proposals made by the Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
on 20 March 2006 would have seen the force merge with the other four East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
forces to form a strategic police force for the entire region. These proposals were ended by John Reid
John Reid (politician)
John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan, PC is a British politician, who served as a Labour Party Member of Parliament and cabinet minister under Tony Blair, most notably as Defence Secretary and then Home Secretary...
in June 2006. The police authority received £287,600 from the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
for costs of preparing the ill-fated merger.
In 2008 the Lincolnshire Police Authority experienced a funding crisis. The authority claimed that the central government grant was insufficient to provide efficient policing in Lincolnshire, due to the unfavourable working of the formula used by the government to assess police grants. The authority decided to reduce the shortfall by making a 79% increase in its precept (the portion of Council Tax
Council tax
Council Tax is the system of local taxation used in England, Scotland and Wales to part fund the services provided by local government in each country. It was introduced in 1993 by the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as a successor to the unpopular Community Charge...
payable to the Police Authority). The government then announced its intention to "cap" this demand, resulting in a net 26% increase.
District structure
The Chief ConstableChief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
is Richard Crompton. Lincolnshire Police Authority
Police authority
A police authority in the United Kingdom, is a body charged with securing efficient and effective policing of a police area served by a territorial police force or the area and/or activity policed by a special police force...
has 9 councillors, 3 justices of the peace, and 5 independent members.
Lincolnshire Police has an establishment of about 1,200 police officers. The force has just had major changes to its organisation; divisions have gone and front line officers are organised into Neigbourhood Policing Teams (NPT) and Response (area cars).
Previously there were 3 "divisions" (West, East, & South) with Lincoln, Skegness, and Grantham hosting the divisional headquarters of each. The county
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
is now divided into four "districts" for the purposes of policing. This as of 1 June 2011. These are Lincoln & West Lindsey (covering Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
, Gainsborough
Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Gainsborough is a town 15 miles north-west of Lincoln on the River Trent within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. At one time it served as an important port with trade downstream to Hull, and was the most inland in England, being more than 55 miles from the North...
, Market Rasen
Market Rasen
Market Rasen is a town and civil parish within the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. It lies on the River Rase northeast of Lincoln, east of Gainsborough and southwest of Grimsby. According to the 2001 census, it has a population of 3,200....
), North & South Kesteven (covering Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
, Sleaford
Sleaford
Sleaford is a town in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It is located thirteen miles northeast of Grantham, seventeen miles west of Boston, and nineteen miles south of Lincoln, and had a total resident population of around 14,500 in 6,167 households at the time...
, North Hykeham, Bracebridge Heath, Market Deeping, Bourne and Stamford
Stamford, Lincolnshire
Stamford is a town and civil parish within the South Kesteven district of the county of Lincolnshire, England. It is approximately to the north of London, on the east side of the A1 road to York and Edinburgh and on the River Welland...
), Coast & Wolds (covering Skegness
Skegness
Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
, Mablethorpe
Mablethorpe
Mablethorpe is a small seaside town in East Lindsey on the coast of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Several small caravan parks exist around Mablethorpe. The town is administered with Sutton-on-Sea and Trusthorpe, as the civil parish of Mablethorpe and Sutton...
, Louth
Louth, Lincolnshire
Louth is a market town and civil parish within the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.-Geography:Known as the "capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds", it is situated where the ancient trackway Barton Street crosses the River Lud, and has a total resident population of 15,930.The Greenwich...
and Horncastle), Boston & South Holland (covering Boston
Boston, Lincolnshire
Boston is a town and small port in Lincolnshire, on the east coast of England. It is the largest town of the wider Borough of Boston local government district and had a total population of 55,750 at the 2001 census...
, Spalding
Spalding, Lincolnshire
Spalding is a market town with a population of 30,000 on the River Welland in the South Holland district of Lincolnshire, England. Little London is a hamlet directly south of Spalding on the B1172 road....
, Holbeach, and Sutton Bridge). These areas effectively pair 2 district/borough council areas to one policing district.
The force currently has round the clock armed response vehicles manned by Roads Policing Officers (RPU). Front line officers in Lincolnshire also carry Tasar which is in addition to C/S spray.
Officers from Lincolnshire are also detached to EMSOU, East Midlands Special Operations unit. The force has its own underwater search unit which is manned by officers from across the force.
Other departments
As with all police forces, Lincolnshire Police has many specialist departments aside from the officers and PCSOs that respond initially to calls from the public. These include the Roads Policing Unit (who also form the force's firearms response), Dog section, Public Protection Unit (including specialist sexual offences officers), Scenes Of Crime, Custody suites, and the Force Control Room. In addition to this are other support departments such as IT and HR.Officers and Police Staff forming these departments are based across the county, but most having their main office at Force Headquarters in Nettleham.
Chief Officers
- Richard Crompton Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
appointed June 2008, Deputy Chief ConstableDeputy Chief ConstableDeputy chief constable is the second highest rank in all territorial police forces in the United Kingdom , as well as the British Transport Police, Ministry of Defence Police and Civil Nuclear...
2 August 2004 to June 2008 - Tony Lake Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
appointed 24 September 2003, retired June 2008 - Richard Childs QPM Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
appointed 1998, retired Autumn 2003 - J P Bensley Chief ConstableChief ConstableChief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
(in post 1993)
Alumni
- Laurence Byford (former Chief Constable) - father of Mark ByfordMark ByfordMark Byford was Deputy Director General of the British Broadcasting Corporation and head of BBC Journalism from 2004-2011. He chaired the BBC Journalism Board and had overall responsibility for the world’s largest and most trusted news organisation, and all its radio, television and interactive...
- Arthur Troop - police sergeant who started the International Police AssociationInternational Police AssociationThe International Police Association is the largest organisation for police officers in the world.The founder Arthur Troop , a police sergeant, was born in Lincoln, in the English county of Lincolnshire....
on 1 January 1950, with initial resistance from his superiors.
See also
- List of police forces in the United Kingdom
- Policing in the United KingdomPolicing in the United KingdomLaw enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....