Centenary of strike action which helped reform policing
Officers who sacrificed their roles to help reform and improve policing for future generations of West Midlands Police cops are being remembered on the 100th anniversary of historic strike action.
It was back in 1919 when a band of Birmingham Police officers joined others nationally in making a stand, amid a number of concerns over pay and working conditions.
Around 120 men, of an establishment of 1,430 officers in Birmingham at the time, went on strike after answering the call to action of the National Union of Police and Prison officers.
Those who went on strike in Birmingham lost their positions in policing but helped bring about changes which have benefitted generations to come − including many of their own family members who went on to become bobbies.
It was in 1919, following the disgruntlement, that Police Federations were formed for officers to air their grievances and to act as an official body in their interests in future.
The significant moment in history is being recognised through current West Midlands Police staff with a commemorative event, which is due to be attended by a wide range of senior police officials and descendants of those who took part in the strikes, to talk about the impact it had at Lloyd House on Friday (2 August).
A new book, entitled ’Out of the Blue’ has also been produced by Corinne Brazier and Inspector Steve Rice, from the West Midlands Police Heritage Project, and is being officially launched on the day.
It had been compiled with the help of volunteers from the WMP museum and incorporates information about what happened at the time along with accounts from family members of the strikers.
One Birmingham family had four sisters who all married police officers from the Moseley Street station between 1910 and 1934 – and their legacy of policing continues even now. Nellie and Edith Russell were married to police officers Thomas Mooney and Jack Allen who were both dismissed following the strike action.
While Beatrice Russell tied the knot with PC Harry Paragreen in 1916 and, following his death through illness two years later, went on to marry another bobby Billy Woodyatt. The youngest daughter Mollie then got hitched to Birmingham cop Robbie Robinson in 1936 and their grandson is a serving police officer in Avon and Somerset to ensure their history of policing remains.
Steve said: “There is no doubt that the events of 1919 were significant and impacted on policing forever.
“The feeling of discontent had been brewing for some time and led the then Birmingham Police to strike – something they had never done before or since.
“Officers were prepared to risk everything to ensure change and this helped lead to improvements which will hopefully ensure similar action is never needed again.
“The book and commemorations are all about remembering and further understanding their sacrifice.”
