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93-516: Queen Victoria approved the formation of 'The Electrical Engineers, Royal Engineers (Volunteers)' on 27 April 1897. Their role was to supplement the regular Royal Engineers (RE) in wartime by operating searchlights to defend major ports in conjunction with minefields controlled by Volunteer companies of Submarine Miners, RE. The headquarters of the new force was at 5 Victoria Street , Westminster , and initially there were four companies recruited in London and

186-541: A 20 feet (6.1 m)-tall clock tower in the style of Big Ben , stands at the intersection of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street. It was erected in 1892 but removed in 1964 during road widening works, and was kept in storage until eventually being restored in 1981. The Apollo Victoria Theatre was built in 1929 in Art Deco style, opening in 1930 the New Victoria Cinema. It closed in 1975 before being reopened as

279-740: A 25-mile wide searchlight belt stretching from Northumberland to Sussex, with a double ring round London. The TF began forming AA S/L companies in December 1915, mainly from the LEE and the Tyne Electrical Engineers (TEE). By July 1917 there were 42 AA Companies of the RE scattered around the country, all with the LEE and TEE as their parent units. These included the following LEE units: (The LEE itself had been reduced to five companies by August 1917). Changes were also needed in searchlight design and training, so

372-648: A central operations room at Brompton, working directly under HQ No 11 Group , Fighter Command at Uxbridge . 75th S/L operated a 'fixed azimuth' line of S/Ls and sound detectors across the flight paths to the IAZ, while the two LEE regiments cooperated with the HAA guns in the urban area. The three regiments continued to form part of 38th AA Brigade under 1st AA Division. Later, as the Blitz continued, 27th (LEE) S/L Rgt moved out to join 47 AA Bde in 5 AA Division , covering Southampton . By

465-461: A certain digit or they may have additional insignia on their epaulettes which is usually a crown with the letters SC above or below it (although some forces just use the letters). Formerly, male special constables in English and Welsh forces did not wear helmets while on foot patrol but wore patrol caps instead, but in most forces they now do wear helmets. Some forces also issue special constables with

558-464: A chief officer. In Scotland, special constables have no separate administrative structure and grading system. While the idea of a populace policing itself dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, with English common law requiring that all citizens have the legal obligation to come to the assistance of a police officer, it was not until 1673 that Charles II ruled that citizens may be temporarily sworn in as constables during times of public disorder. This ruling

651-711: A detachment of the Electrical Engineers Volunteers to South Africa where they operated electric Arc lamp searchlights of his own design, the first use of such equipment by the Royal Engineers on campaign. The detachment served from April to October 1900 in the Transvaal and Orange Free State . Crompton was promoted to lieutenant-colonel , Mentioned in Dispatches and made a Companion of the Bath for his efforts and

744-404: A different hat badge from that of their regular counterparts although this is now extremely rare. Special constables all carry the same personal protective equipment (PPE) as their regular counterparts, such as handcuffs , batons , incapacitant spray ( CS/PAVA spray ), and protective vests. The issuing of equipment varies from force to force with financial factors being the main reason behind

837-514: A group of 22. Whilst not lawfully excluded from doing so, specials do not carry firearms due to enhanced vetting and the training commitments required. The vast majority of special constables serve with one of the 45 territorial police forces in the United Kingdom. Depending on where they are attested, they have full police powers throughout one of three distinct legal systems - either England and Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland . This

930-512: A joint LEE/TEE company was formed for service in France, designated No 1 (London and Tyne) Electrical & Mechanical Company, RE. It assembled at the LEE's HQ in London, and landed at Le Havre on 15 December, where it was attached to General Headquarters (GHQ) of the BEF. It carried out a variety of duties, ranging from installing electric lighting for hospitals, water pumps and laundry equipment, to erecting

1023-749: A number of years been training some of their specials to work with their road policing units (RPU); this has been expanded and some specials with Warwickshire and West Mercia are now working with their force's criminal intercept team. In 1995, special constables from Cheshire Police assisted officers from the Ministry of Defence Police with a surveillance operation at the former Royal Ordnance Factory at Radway Green near Crewe . A number of special constables are trained in public order duties, including policing of football matches and demonstrations. In West Yorkshire Police , 24 specials have received Level 2 PSU ( Police Support Unit ) training, and have become part of

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1116-739: A printing works and building a trench locomotive. After the Battle of the Somme it was decided to form an E & M Company for each of the Armies of the BEF and the London & Tyne Company was split to form 351 Company ( Second Army ) and 354 Company ( Fifth Army ). 354 Company was later responsible for the development of air-lift and belt water pumps to supply drinking water. During the German spring offensive of 1918, 351 and 354 E &M Companies were entrusted with destroying electrical installations and water supplies ahead of

1209-466: A range of eventualities such as first aid in case of injury, initial coordination of the security of aircraft crash sites, clearing people from the vicinity of unexploded bombs, handling of unignited incendiary bombs and checking compliance with lighting regulations. Requirements for being a special constable vary from force to force. The recruitment process in Scotland is also significantly different from

1302-546: A section 18(1) PACE search and so on. In an operational setting, a special constable whatever their rank or grade has no formal authority over a regular officer in terms of supervision, although occasionally a very experienced senior special officer may informally temporarily oversee inexperienced regular officers. Only the Cheshire Special Constabulary and the Durham Special Constabulary use

1395-597: A special in The Great War or "LONG SERVICE (year clasp was issued)" for clasps earned for service after the war. Special Constables are also eligible for other honours and a full list of honours can be found at the List of British Special Constables awarded honours with seven members of the Special Constabulary being awarded MBEs and BEMs in the 2019 New Year Honours. Special Constables are now eligible to receive

1488-547: A team was selected from the London Electrical Engineers to return to their Headquarters at 46 Regency Street and set up workshops, design and drawing offices to deal with the redesigns. This organisation became The Searchlight Experimental Establishment commanded by Captain P. Yorke, RE. (The TEE similarly took responsibility for the School of Electric Lighting at Gosport .) Technology and tactics developed to keep pace as

1581-598: A theatre in 1981. In 1984 it became host to the musical Starlight Express , which remained its main production until 2002. Opposite the Victoria Street entrance to Victoria Station is the site of the former Metropole Kinema, built in 1929 and in operation until 1977. It reopened in 1978 as The Venue , a live music club owned by Virgin Records , which ran until 1984. The building was demolished in 2013. The House of Fraser department store on Victoria Street, opened in 2005,

1674-489: A volunteer and went out with Gunner L.E.P. Cory to rescue a wounded trooper of the Northumberland Hussars lying wounded in a ravine some 800 yards away. They brought the man back over open ground under fire from snipers. BSM Egglesfield was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal but was awarded a Military Medal , as was Gnr Cory. By 26 May, after continuous German attack from the air and by airborne troops,

1767-613: Is 16 hours), although many do considerably more. Special constables might receive some expenses and allowances from the police service, including a £ 1,100 "recognition award" in Scotland and some forces in England, but their work is in the main voluntary and unpaid. Special constables have identical powers to their regular (full-time) colleagues and work alongside them, but most special constabularies in England and Wales have their own organisational structure and grading system , which varies from force to force. Special constabularies are headed by

1860-636: Is a designated 'Opportunity Area' in the Mayor's London Plan and Westminster City Council's Adopted Core Strategy January 2011 policy planning document, recognising the potential of the area, with its excellent transport links to accommodate commercial and residential growth. There are a number of emerging proposals for major redevelopment in the area, including improvements to the Victoria Underground Station, and regeneration of surrounding sites. Special Constabulary The Special Constabulary

1953-472: Is a street named Stag Place and a pub called the Stag.) Part of a slum, dubbed " Devil's Acre " by Charles Dickens , was demolished to construct Victoria Street, which opened for use in 1851. Pleasance Pendred and three other suffragettes smashed the windows of various shops including the antiquities shop at 167 Victoria Street in 1913. Victoria Station was built in 1860. The architect Archibald Leitch who

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2046-631: Is an area of Central London in the City of Westminster . It is named after Victoria Station , which is a major transport hub. The station was named after the nearby Victoria Street, opened 1851. The name is used to describe streets adjoining or nearly adjoining the station in the West End of London , including Victoria Street, Buckingham Palace Road , Wilton Road , Grosvenor Gardens , and Vauxhall Bridge Road. Victoria consists predominantly of commercial property and private and social housing, with retail uses along

2139-502: Is built on the site of the former flagship branch of the Army & Navy Stores , opened in 1872. Army & Navy Stores had been acquired by House of Fraser in 1973. Three notable schools are closest to the Victoria neighbourhood, Westminster City School for Boys and Grey Coat Hospital for Girls, as well as the independent Westminster School at Deans Yard near Westminster Abbey . Victoria

2232-511: Is identical to the jurisdiction granted to regular officers, although prior to 1 April 2007, special constables in England and Wales only had jurisdiction within their force area and any adjacent force areas. Recent changes have seen special constables enjoy the same cross-border powers as regular constables. Special constables of the British Transport Police have exactly the same powers and privileges as regular BTP constables , and

2325-407: Is no basis in law for ranks or grades for special constables. As such there is no equivalency of a regular police sergeant versus a special police sergeant for example. A special constable who is a higher rank or grade has no additional powers or opportunities in the same way as a regular officer. For example, a custody sergeant must be a regular police sergeant. A special inspector cannot authorise

2418-692: Is the part-time volunteer section of statutory police forces in the United Kingdom and some Crown dependencies . Its officers are known as special constables . Every United Kingdom territorial police force has a special constabulary except the Police Service of Northern Ireland , which has a Reserve constituted on different grounds. However, the Royal Ulster Constabulary (and the previous Royal Irish Constabulary ) did have its own Ulster Special Constabulary from 1920 until 1970, when

2511-543: Is the stereotypical image of a special constable, it only represents one of the wide range of duties undertaken. Many police forces in England and Wales have introduced neighbourhood policing teams and the Special Constabulary has been incorporated into this concept. Many special constables have taken the opportunity to join specialist teams within their constabularies such as marine support , dog units and roads policing. Durham Constabulary , Warwickshire Police , West Mercia Police and Devon and Cornwall Police have for

2604-418: Is to ensure there are enough working pooled radios available in a command area to meet any "surge" need. On 19 May 2022, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced that special constables would be able to carry tasers. Prior to this, special constables were not issued or trained to operate tasers. The British Transport Police became the first force to issues tasers to special constables on 27 May 2022, starting

2697-569: The 26th and 27th (London Electrical Engineers) Battalion, RE , becoming the two senior searchlight units of the new Territorial Army (Numbers 1–25 were reserved for Regular Army units, but most were never used). 26 AA Battalion, based at the Duke of York's Headquarters in Chelsea, comprised Nos 301–3 AA Companies, and 27 AA Bn headquartered at Mitcham Lane, Streatham , had Nos 304–6 based at Rochester Row, Westminster. (The Regency Street premises were used by

2790-563: The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. They were formed into 13 small detachments, each assigned to a Field Company of the RE to operate small oxy-acetylene searchlights to detect enemy raiding parties in No-Man's Land. Although these were used with some success for a few months, exposing a light drew heavy fire from the enemy, and the dangerous work earned the detachments the nickname of 'the suicide brigade'. In November 1915

2883-516: The King's Police Medal . On 11 March 2022 HM Queen Elizabeth II approved amendments to the Royal Warrant to expressly state that members of the Special Constabulary in England and Wales were eligible for the medal, with members of the Special Constabulary in Scotland already eligible. The Lord Ferrers' Awards recognise outstanding contributions to volunteering in policing. The awards, previously known as

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2976-613: The London Electrical Engineers (LEE) specialised on searchlights. Crompton and most of the other officers appointed to the LEE were Members or Associate Members of the Institution of Civil Engineers . Another was the pioneer aeronautical engineer Edward Teshmaker Busk , who was a lieutenant in the corps. Crompton retired in 1910, but was appointed Honorary Colonel of the corps in 1911. By the outbreak of World War I in August 1914,

3069-463: The Police Federation . They are afforded the same representation as "regulars" and are eligible to become representatives, time and schedule permitting. They must also pay the same membership fee, currently £24 per month (Discounted 50% for the first year of service), despite being unpaid volunteers. This membership also allows them benefits such as "Group Insurance" and other associated perks of

3162-576: The 1980s, specials were often considered to be preventing regular officers from earning overtime pay. A sizeable proportion of regular officers have served as special constables before joining the regular force , which is encouraged by recruitment departments. Most police forces will accept applications from the age of 18; and the minimum age to commence training is 17 years 9 months in Essex Constabulary and 17 years 6 months for Humberside Police . The Association of Special Constabulary Officers

3255-550: The 26th became the first 'Mixed' regiment, with seven Troops of ATS women posted to it, forming the whole of 301 Battery and half of 339 Battery. On 25 October that year, 303 and 339 Btys were listed as Mixed, and the all-women 301 Battery transferred to the new 93rd (Mixed) Searchlight Regiment, Royal Artillery the last searchlight regiment formed, which by August 1943 comprised about 1500 women out of an establishment of 1674. A and B Troops of 339 Bty also transferred to 93rd S/L Rgt, in exchange for A and B Trps of 495 Bty. 301 Battery

3348-577: The Federation. Membership is not mandatory. Established by Royal Warrant on 30 August 1919, the Special Constabulary Long Service Medal may be earned by special constables after nine years' service, with a clasp issued for each additional period of 10 years. The name and rank of the recipient and the date of the award are engraved on the rim of the medal. The clasp includes the inscription "THE GREAT WAR 1914 - 18" for service as

3441-474: The Germans replaced vulnerable airships with heavy bombers. New 90 cm and 120 cm electric searchlights and their sound locators were linked directly to the guns to provide early warning. In August 1918, a new establishment was implemented. The London and Tyne Electrical Engineers became the parent units for all coast defence and anti-aircraft Electric Light units and the depots that trained men for them. It

3534-665: The London Electrical Engineers had grown to six companies based at Regency Street. Searchlight units were immediately deployed to the South Coast of England and the Thames Estuary to form light barriers against surface raiders. For example, No 2 Company London Electrical Engineers was positioned at Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury. By an agreement between the Admiralty and War Office on 3 September 1914, responsibility for air defence of

3627-557: The London Electrical Engineers retained its title and role, 1st London Divisional Telegraph Company, RE, (as well as the 1st and 2nd London Divisional Field Companies) was found by the East London (Tower Hamlets) RE (V) , while the 2nd London Divisional Telegraph Company (as well as 3rd and 4th London Field Companies) was found by the 1st Middlesex RE (V). The London Division was therefore finally reorganised as follows: The three telegraph companies formed London District Signals , while

3720-605: The Midlands. By 1908 there were seven 'Divisions' of electrical engineers around the great estuary ports of Britain, including the London Division, which was responsible for the Thames Estuary . The London Electrical Engineers established its HQ at 46 Regency Street, Victoria, in 1900. The commanding officer of The Electrical Engineers was Rookes Crompton (1845–1940), the electrical pioneer and founder of Crompton & Co, one of

3813-593: The Operation Target team. There were plans for the Metropolitan Police to have up to 10,000 specials to help with security at the 2012 Olympic Games . This was to be done either through recruitment, with 700 extra specials being employed in the last year or by borrowing them from other forces. While this idea would have created a much safer environment for the Olympic celebrations, the plans came under fire from

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3906-537: The Regular RE (No 1) and by the TEE. The parent units of a further 29 AAS sections are not known, but they probably consisted of mixed LEE, TEE and Medical Category B personnel. A fixed two-light section in France in 1917 comprised 20 men with three vehicles; a mobile three-light section in 1918 consisted of five vehicles and 28 men. In August 1915, a detachment of volunteers from the TEE (72 men) and LEE (39 men) proceeded to join

3999-612: The Reserve was formed. The British Transport Police (a national " special police force ") also has a special constabulary. In the Crown dependencies, the Isle of Man Constabulary and the States of Guernsey Police Service also have special constabularies, but the States of Jersey Police does not. Jersey has Honorary Police . The strength of the special constabulary as of September 2018 in England and Wales

4092-706: The Royal Engineers to the Royal Artillery , being redesignated Searchlight Regiments, and the AA Companies became Searchlight Batteries. 306 AA Bty returned to 27th (LEE) S/L Rgt in September 1940. When heavy German night air raids on the UK ( The Blitz ) began in late summer 1940 the London Inner Artillery Zone (IAZ) had 73 S/L positions operated by 26th and 27th (LEE) and 75th (Middlesex) S/L Rgts , controlled from

4185-509: The SC identity (with or without a crown) to distinguish ranks (and/or role). Wiltshire Special Constabulary is believed to be the only special constabulary within England and Wales to not have a rank structure. Instead, it has special constable section leaders (SCSLs) strategically located around the county. Special constables generally wear identical uniforms to their regular colleagues. In some constabularies, their shoulder number may be prefixed with

4278-579: The Special Constabulary National Strategy 2018-2023 the structure and insignia is under review with the intention to standardise. Special constabulary epaulettes frequently bear the letters "SC" (with or without a crown above) to differentiate them from regular officers. Senior special constables wear the same markings on their hats as equivalent regular ranks. Other special constabularies use combinations of bars, half bars, pips, crowns, laurel wreaths, collar numbers, force crests and

4371-537: The Special Constabulary as a volunteer organisation, and expanded its jurisdiction. The constabulary was redefined for the last time into the organisation which exists today by the Special Constables Act 1914 just after the outbreak of World War I , during which they safeguarded water supplies from German infiltrators. During the Second World War , besides their normal duties, they were trained to deal with

4464-530: The Standard Entrance Test in Scotland), interview, security checks, fitness test and medical assessment although the exact process is force specific. There are currently a total of nine ranks currently in use across the special constabularies. Some of these ranks are rarely in use and special constabularies rarely use more than six ranks. The " NPIA " style rank insignia have a set of only seven ranks. There

4557-573: The Suez Canal on 24 February with Battery HQ at Ismailia under 78 AA Bde while 304 Bty was deployed to Tobruk. But there was little to do apart from training with the new Searchlight Control (SLC) radar. In May, 304 Bty returned to Ismailia and 484 Bty went a short way to Quassassin where it came under 21 AA Bde. By June, the AA defences of the Middle East had been reduced to a 'shell' to protect Alexandria and

4650-416: The Suez Canal. In July the regiment was disposed as follows: The following month 484 Bty began to disband (officially it entered 'suspended animation' on 10 September) and most of its personnel were sent to No 2 Depot Regiment, RA, for drafting elsewhere. 390 Battery disbanded on 27 September 1944. 27th (LEE) S/L Regiment and the remaining batteries followed it into suspended animation on 15 June 1945. When

4743-547: The TA on 1 January 1947 as 562 Searchlight Regiment RA (27th London Electrical Engineers) . Two years later it incorporated members of the Women's Royal Army Corps and was redesignated as a Mixed Light Anti-Aircraft/Searchlight regiment. It was subordinated to 64 AA Bde . When Anti-Aircraft Command was disbanded on 10 March 1955, 562 Regiment was merged into 624 LAA Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), becoming R Battery (London Electrical Engineers) in

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4836-492: The TA was reconstituted on 1 January 1947, 26th Searchlight Regiment and its three remaining batteries (303, 321, 339) was placed in suspended animation at Benbow Barracks, Blandford Camp . The war-raised personnel then reformed the regiment in the Regular Army , redesignated from 1 April as 118th Searchlight Rgt with 357, 358, 359 S/L btys (now unmixed). However, this was rescinded a month later. Meanwhile, 26th (LEE) S/L Regt

4929-696: The UK and the seat of the Archbishop of Westminster . It was built between 1895 and 1903 in the Neo-Byzantine style on a site previously occupied by the Tothill Fields Bridewell prison from 1618–1884. Victoria Palace Theatre dates from 1911 and replaced the Royal Standard Music Hall, built in 1886. That itself had been a replacement for an earlier Royal Standard Music Hall, which originally opened in 1850 as Moy's Music Hall. Little Ben ,

5022-612: The UK lay initially with the Royal Navy , which provided aircraft, quick-firing guns and searchlights to defend vulnerable points against the anticipated air raids. These acetylene searchlights were operated by civilian Special Constables . The first night raid was made by Zeppelin airships on 19/20 January 1915, then in April and May regular raids began on the East Coast of England, reaching London on 31 May/1 June. Zeppelin raids continued during

5115-405: The advancing enemy. These then had to be replaced during the Hundred Days advance. Among the professionals who served with the London Electrical Engineers during the war were the electrical engineer Reginald Frankland-Payne Gallwey (who later succeeded as the 5th Baronet of that name) and the chemist Theodore Acland . The remaining part-time civilian searchlight operators were also replaced. By

5208-501: The age of 30 had been transferred to the infantry. The regiment left the UK early in 1941 to move to Egypt , where it came under the command of 2 AA Bde based in Cairo . Until late 1942 (when it was joined by a Royal Marines unit) it was the only searchlight regiment in Middle East Forces , and frequently had detachments serving over a wide area. In May 1941, 304 Battery was detached with other Royal Artillery units from Egypt to Crete , where it operated 20 searchlight projectors in

5301-521: The appointment of Special Constables, and for the better preservation of the Police" . This Act, forming the basis of special-constable principles to the modern day, and in particular allowed the formation of special constables outside of times of unrest, if the regular police force was deemed to be too small in a particular area. Specials were also granted full powers of arrest like their regular counterparts at this time, as well as weapons and equipment to carry out their duty. A further act in 1835 redefined

5394-436: The area round the Humber Estuary where it came under the command of 46th (Lincolnshire Regiment) AA Bn in 39 AA Bde . In November the company moved into Grimsby to make that a lighted gun zone. In February 1940, 306 AA Co took over some S/L sites on the East Coast that were positioned to pick up low-flying aircraft laying Parachute mines in the mouth of the Humber. On 1 August 1940 the AA Battalions were transferred from

5487-510: The battle (Operation Lightfoot), five searchlights were used to assist the assaulting troops to keep direction. As Eighth Army pursued the Axis forces across North Africa, AA units followed to defend its lines of communication. By January 1943, the regiment was deployed as follows: By the end of the campaign in North Africa in May 1943, the regiment was deployed as follows: After the Allied victory in North Africa, 27th Searchlight Regiment remained under Middle East Forces . By January 1944, as

5580-431: The bus station at the westerly end of the street when his parents split up at the age of 9. Before going into comedy he worked as an errand boy in the then grand Artillery Mansions on Victoria Street which was then a grand hotel. In the 1980s it went into decay and became a squat – and in the 1990s was gutted, refurbished and now it is an elegant apartment block. Westminster Cathedral is the largest Catholic church in

5673-515: The combined regiment. Finally, on 1 May 1961, 624 LAA Regiment merged into a TA infantry battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and the London Electrical Engineers lineage ended. The London Electrical Engineers are listed on the City and County of London Troops Memorial in front of the Royal Exchange, London , with architectural design by Sir Aston Webb and sculpture by Alfred Drury . The following served as Honorary Colonels: The Electrical Engineers Victoria Street, London Victoria

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5766-419: The defence of the Suda Bay area alongside mainly Royal Marine AA gunners (whose own searchlight unit was acting as infantry). German air raids began on 14 May, reaching a peak of intensity on the morning of 20 May, followed by landings by German paratroops and gliders as the Battle of Crete began. On 22 May, at St Matthews Hill near Canea, Battery Serjeant-Major William Egglesfield of 304th S/L Bty called for

5859-571: The defences round Canea finally collapsed and Suda had to be abandoned. The force had to retreat across the island to Sfakia , where the Royal Navy evacuated as many as possible to Egypt. Thousands of British and Commonwealth troops were taken prisoner. While the Battle of Crete was progressing, two Troops of 306 Battery were serving with 4 AA Bde in the defence of Tobruk , which resisted months of air attack. Meanwhile, night bombing attacks on British bases in Egypt were common, and two Troops of 390 Battery were guarding Alexandria . By October 1941,

5952-445: The differences. In some forces protective vests, or body armour, may be personally issued to an officer, made to measure, however many other forces cannot afford this practice and instead the use of pool sets is prevalent. The same practice is also seen with regard to radios: although many forces provide special constables with personal radios kept securely at their police station, other forces may only have pool sets. The management task

6045-431: The early 17th century it started off as a small brewhouse with properties that once were part of St James's Palace. This then substantially grew and then was bought and owned by Watney & Co . They built lodgings around the brewery as well as amenities for their staff to use. By the end of the 19th century they were employing a sizeable number of staff. (It closed down in 1959 and was demolished. All that now remains of it

6138-405: The end of the Blitz in May 1941, 26th (LEE) S/L Rgt was still with 38th AA Bde in 1 AA Division with 321 and 339 Btys, while 301 and 303 Btys were detached to 8 AA Division in South West England . Meanwhile, 27th (LEE) S/L Rgt had left AA Command, and from now on the two regiments' histories diverged. 26th Searchlight Regiment retained its role of defending London as part of AA Command throughout

6231-435: The end of the war there were 622 searchlights in use for Home Defence. This large anti-aircraft effort was quickly scaled down after the Armistice , but the Searchlight Experimental Establishment continued as civilian body, with several officers of the London Electrical Engineers still attached. In 1922 the London Electrical Engineers was split into the 10th and 11th Anti-Aircraft Battalions RE. These were renumbered in 1923 as

6324-417: The existing AA defences came under the control of a new Anti-Aircraft Command . In June a partial mobilisation of TA units was begun in a process known as 'couverture', whereby each AA unit did a month's tour of duty in rotation to man selected AA and searchlight positions. On 24 August, ahead of the declaration of war, AA Command was fully mobilised at its war stations. By October, 306 AA Co had been moved to

6417-446: The first large-scale manufacturers of electrical equipment. In earlier life he had been an infantry officer in the Rifle Brigade and the 57th Foot before going onto the Reserve List in 1880, but had spent much of his service in India designing military steam wagons. Early in the Second Boer War , Colonel Robert Baden-Powell improvised searchlights to deter night attacks during the Siege of Mafeking . Soon afterward Major Crompton led

6510-432: The former London District Signals, which had become Air Defence Signals.) Crompton remained Honorary Colonel of the 27th. During the 1930s the air defence strength of the Territorial Army was greatly expanded. In December 1935 1st Anti-Aircraft Division was formed to cover London, with 26th and 27th Battalions assigned to 26th (London) Anti-Aircraft Group (later Brigade), which shared the Duke of York's Headquarters. With

6603-428: The further expansion of the TA after 1938, each battalion was brought up to a four-company establishment with newly raised companies, 26th Bn gaining 321 AA Company and 27th Bn receiving 390 AA Company. On 15 December 1938, 26th Battalion transferred its 302 AA Company to 34th (Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment) Anti-Aircraft Battalion at Greenwich, receiving 339 AA Company in exchange. In September 1938, 26th AA Bde

6696-469: The headquarters of Transport for London at Windsor House, and the former New Scotland Yard building (headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service from 1967 to 2016). The area formed part of the parish of St George Hanover Square . Long before Cardinal Place opposite the cathedral came into being there was a huge brewery (Stag Brewery) based at the western end of Victoria Street. From

6789-552: The main streets. The area contains one of the busiest transport interchanges in London and the United Kingdom, including the listed railway station and the underground station, as well as Terminus Place, which is a major hub for bus and taxi services. Victoria Coach Station , 900 yards (800 metres) southwest of the railway station, provides road-coach services to long-distance UK and continental destinations. Victoria Street runs on an east–west axis from Victoria station to Broad Sanctuary at Westminster Abbey . Cardinal Place , across

6882-481: The police federation, which said that "volunteer special constables could drop out at the last minute, causing significant staffing problems". After the security firm G4S failed to hire enough security staff, the government called in 3,500 additional military personnel to cover the shortfall. Historically, special constables were often looked down upon by regular officers and resented, as they were sometimes seen as "hobby bobbies" and not proper police officers. During

6975-563: The process in England and Wales. It can take from as few as six to as many as eighteen months from initial application through to attestation where recruits take the police oath . A number of different steps are involved in the recruitment process and the order can vary from force to force. The first part of the process usually involves completing an application form. After that, there may be a combination of entrance test (the Police Initial Recruitment Test in England and Wales or

7068-443: The same cross-border powers. BTP special constables do not wear the distinctive "SC" insignia on their epaulettes. They work across England, Wales and Scotland and will often parade on at their home station and work 40 to 80 miles away from it. As well as patrol duties, special constables often take part in response duties and specials often police events such as sports matches, carnivals, parades and fêtes . While this event policing

7161-594: The special chief superintendent rank within the force. Within the City of London Special Constabulary is the Honourable Artillery Company Specials, provided by the Honourable Artillery Company ; members of this unit wear HAC on the shoulders in addition to other insignia. There is a large variation in the design of epaulettes used across Great Britain for special constables. This has been recognised at national level and as part of

7254-509: The street from Westminster Cathedral , opened in 2006 and contains a selection of restaurants, banks and shops, including a Marks and Spencer store. Further along the street, there is a large House of Fraser department store (formerly the Army & Navy ) opposite Westminster City Hall . At the Broad Sanctuary end is the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy building,

7347-557: The summer and autumn of 1915, after which it was decided that the Royal Navy would try to deal with raiders approaching the British coastline, while the Army would be responsible for dealing with them over land. The transfer took effect between February and April 1916. Experience had shown the need for plentiful searchlights to guide both gunners and fighter pilots to their targets. The army established

7440-542: The war moved away, the AA defences of the Middle East were being run down, and surplus personnel were sent as reinforcements to other theatres of the war. At this time the regiment had been reduced to just two active batteries: 484 (Carmarthenshire) S/L Bty , which had served during the long Siege of Malta , began arriving at Alexandria from Malta on 1 January 1944, and on 17 January was attached to 27th (LEE) S/L Rgt. It had brought its own equipment, but took over 90 cm S/L positions from 304 Bty and became operational along

7533-617: The war. It was rejoined by 301 and 303 Btys later in 1941. On 17 February 1942, A Troop of 303 Bty was disbanded and replaced by C Trp of 301 Bty. A secret trial (the 'Newark Experiment' in April 1941) having shown that women were capable of operating heavy searchlight equipment and coping with conditions on the often desolate searchlight sites, members of the Auxiliary Territorial Service began training to replace male personnel in searchlight regiments. At first they were employed in searchlight Troop headquarters, but on 7 July 1942

7626-595: The whole regiment (including the reconstituted 304 Bty) was back in Egypt under the command of 2 AA Bde: giving a total of 74 projectors – the only S/Ls then in Egypt. The British Eighth Army advanced again in Operation Crusader , and AA units followed behind. Detachments of 305 Bty were serving with 4 AA Bde in Tobruk on 21 June 1942 when the port was captured by Axis forces . Among the members of 305 Bty who were captured

7719-402: Was 11,343, -12.3% on the previous year. The number of special constables in Scotland in 2018 was 610. Special constables are not the same as police community support officers (PCSOs), who are employed by police forces to provide operational support to regular officers. Special constables usually work for a minimum number of hours per month (depending on the force – the national minimum

7812-500: Was Serjeant C.D. McLaren, Royal Corps of Signals , who escaped from a German Prisoner of War camp in Italy in September 1943 and succeeded in reaching the Allied lines, for which he was awarded a Mention in Dispatches . At the time of the Battle of Alamein two Troops of the regiment were serving with 12 AA Bde under HQ Eighth Army for Army Area protection. During the opening night phase of

7905-470: Was coupled with falling living standards and starvation . In 1819, mass meetings calling for parliamentary reform took place across England, including 60,000 demonstrators rioting in Manchester where a special constable was killed. In light of these events, in 1820, an Act was passed allowing magistrates to recruit men as special constables. In 1831, Parliament passed "An act for amending the laws relative to

7998-491: Was established as a registered charity to represent special constables in relation to terms and conditions and representation at various Home Office and College of Policing boards. ASCO has also represented special constables for welfare issues and supported them as a 'police friend' in misconduct cases. Having previously not been allowed to join, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 now allows Special Constables to join

8091-602: Was from these that nearly all RE AA companies and AASL companies were formed, serving on Home Defence, with the British Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and on the Italian Front . Between 1915 and 1918, the RE formed 76 AA Searchlight Sections for overseas service. The LEE is known to have found 25 of these: Nos 2 (jointly with Regular RE), 3–5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 25, 29, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45 and 48, together with Nos 21, 23 and 24, which were formed in France from Nos 1-8 AAS sections. Others were formed by

8184-415: Was in response to rising public disorder relating to enforcement of religious conformity, and any citizen refusing to acknowledge the call would have been subject to fines and jail sentences. The 1673 act was enforced for centuries after, mainly used to call up constables in the north of England. Public disorder of that nature was renewed during the industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, which

8277-545: Was later given the honorary rank of colonel . Under the Haldane Reforms , the Electrical Engineers RE were converted into Fortress Companies RE in the new Territorial Force . They were responsible, among other duties, for electrical installations in the defended ports. The large London Division was planned to split into six RE companies as follows: However, the plan was changed over the next two years. Instead,

8370-521: Was reformed on 1 January 1947 as Regimental Headquarters of 121 Construction Regiment RE (County of London) , a TA unit formed from the London Corps Troops Engineers and 47th (London) Infantry Division Engineers, based at the Duke of York's Headquarters. This combined unit later became part of the present-day 101 (City of London) Engineer Regiment . The 27th (LEE) S/L Rgt was reconstituted in

8463-419: Was renowned for his work designing football stadiums including Goodison Park , Craven Cottage , Anfield , Stamford Bridge , Old Trafford , Ibrox and White Hart Lane among many others, had offices which were based at 53 Victoria Street and the street as a whole housed many consulting engineering firms until the 1970s. According to Norman Wisdom 's biography, he slept near the statue of Marshal Foch by

8556-602: Was replaced in the regiment by 529 Bty (the last all-male battery formed), and the regiment transferred to 49th AA Bde in 1 AA Group (which had replaced 1 AA Division). With the lower threat of attack by the weakened Luftwaffe , AA Command was being forced to release manpower for the planned invasion of Normandy ( Operation Overlord ). All Home Defence searchlight regiments were reduced in February 1944, and 26th (LEE) S/L Rgt lost 529 Bty, which commenced disbandment on 2 April. By November that year all men of A1 medical category under

8649-518: Was split in two, the two London Electrical Engineer battalions remaining with 38th Light Anti-Aircraft Brigade at the Duke of York's Headquarters. The TA's AA units were mobilised on 23 September 1938 during the Munich Crisis , with units manning their emergency positions within 24 hours, even though many did not yet have their full complement of men or equipment. The emergency lasted three weeks, and they were stood down on 13 October. In February 1939

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