History
A professional police force was established in Bedfordshire in 1839, under the County Police Act 1839, replacing the earlier system of elected parish constables. It initially comprised a chief constable, who was based in Ampthill, 6 superintendents and 40 constables. Constables were paid 19 shillings a week, which was nearly twice the typical wage of an agricultural labourer in the county at that time.
There was an independent Luton Borough Police from 1876 to 1947, and then from 1964 to 1966, when it amalgamated with Bedfordshire Constabulary, which was then known as the Bedfordshire and Luton Constabulary until 1974. In 1965, Bedfordshire Constabulary had an establishment of 497 and an actual strength of 430.
However, in July 2006 Prime Minister Tony Blair signalled that police force mergers will not be forced through by the central government, and given the amount of local opposition to such mergers it is not expected that any voluntary mergers will occur.
On 11 June 2007, one of its officers, PC Jon Henry, was fatally stabbed whilst on duty in the town sentre of Luton by a Nigerian immigrant, Tennyson Obih. Obih was convicted of his murder, along with the attempted murder and wounding with intent of two other men that he stabbed on the same morning.
Proposals made by the Home Secretary in March 2006 would have seen Bedfordshire Police merge with neighbouring forces Hertfordshire Constabulary and Essex Police to form a strategic police force. The proposals did not go through. However, in 2007 the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Police forces set up a a joint major crime unit, followed by further collaboration in 2009 when the two forces instituted a joint dog unit, and joint departments for professional standards and scientific services. A complete merger of the two forces was proposed but voted against in 2010, although they have continued to merge more of their individual services.
Bedfordshire Police publish results of cases on their official website such as the drug gang who were jailed for 39 years. http://www.bedfordshire.police.uk/about_us/news/offenders_brought_to_justice/120305_-_drug_dealers_sentence.aspx
Read more about this topic: Bedfordshire Police
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