Police strike of 1918.

[Duncan]

Years ago I read that the ring leaders of the 1918 Metropolitan Police strike were hanged for treason! Can anyone confirm this as I can find no reference to it on any websites.

Cheers,

Duncan.

[Hedley Malloch]

During the first world war (1914 - 1918) the cost of living doubled, but police pay stayed as low as ever. There was no way in which policemen could complain about this bad state of affairs - they were not allowed a trade union, and had no group to talk for them. Despite this, a group called the Police Union was formed and, after much arguing, the Metropolitan Police came out on strike in August 1918. They were followed by the City of London Police.

The result of the strike, which lasted for three days, was that the police received a promise of better pay, pensions and children's allowances. It also led to better and fairer pay for other police forces.

A second strike, in July 1919, affected police forces in London, Merseyside and Birmingham. Unlike the first strike, it led to serious crimes being committed, particularly in the Liverpool area. All the strikers lost their jobs, but the promises of 1918 were fulfilled. The 1919 Police Act set up the Police Federation and put into effect the 1918 agreements.

From www.police999.com/history

There is no record of striking policemen being hanged.

[john w.]

Had a quick look and no reference to the names or outcome... seems 200 went on strike at the time several large towns the struck Birmingham being one...

John

[john w.]

Hedley you beat me by 18 seconds

damn

[BeppoSapone]

During the first world war (1914 - 1918) the cost of living doubled, but police pay stayed as low as ever. There was no way in which policemen could complain about this bad state of affairs - they were not allowed a trade union, and had no group to talk for them. Despite this, a group called the Police Union was formed and, after much arguing, the Metropolitan Police came out on strike in August 1918. They were followed by the City of London Police.

The result of the strike, which lasted for three days, was that the police received a promise of better pay, pensions and children's allowances. It also led to better and fairer pay for other police forces.

A second strike, in July 1919, affected police forces in London, Merseyside and Birmingham. Unlike the first strike, it led to serious crimes being committed, particularly in the Liverpool area. All the strikers lost their jobs, but the promises of 1918 were fulfilled. The 1919 Police Act set up the Police Federation and put into effect the 1918 agreements.

From www.police999.com/history

There is no record of striking policemen being hanged.

I had relatives from Merseyside who used to say that the ordinary working class people "helped themselves" to goods etc from the shops. As late as the 1970s the time of the "Police Strikes" were known as "The Loot". It was also said that the Royal Navy had orders to shell Liverpool in order to "restore order". Anyone have fuller detail on this?

This article mentions army units and ships being ordered to Liverpool, and at least one looter being shot dead

http://www.polfed.org/magazine/08_1999/08_...999_gunboat.htm

There were also some very bad race riots in Liverpool and other large ports in 1918 or 1919. IIRC this was demobilised soldiers and sailors coming home to find that their pre-war maritime jobs had been given to black and asian seamen. The belief was that the ship owners would be keeping on the Empire recruited crews because they worked for less.

[Martin B]

No Police Officers were hanged for participating in this strike action.