Police & Prisons

Police

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During the 19th century, local council watch committees were authorised to set up police forces and, in1849, the Wolverhampton Borough Police Force was established. The headquarters were based at Garrick Street and included a number of cells. The records of the Wolverhampton Police are held at Wolverhampton Archives.
The most useful records are the registers of convictions c1850-1918 that list prisoners, their conviction, and usually a physical description.

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Prisoners from Wolverhampton were normally sent to the county gaol in Stafford, whose records are held at Staffordshire Record Office.
Under the Prisons Act 1877 county gaols were brought under central government management on the appointment of a Prison Commission.

The most useful records are prison registers, which can vary in the level of detail given, but usually give the name and date and place of conviction. Some registers also give a detailed description and may even include photographs.