Description

This personal and accurate account of how Southampton was policed in the 1950s vividly displays how traditional policing in the ‘Dixon of Dock Green’ era differs from modern policing. Jim Brown was a Beat Officer in his early days, later becoming a Detective and Patrol Sergeant and speaks from personal experience.
He describes the shift system, with its lack of paid overtime, how Southampton 42 Beats were covered by foot patrol officers 24/7, the duties and working conditions, means of communication before the existence of personal radios, and the court system of that period.
This account is a ‘must’ for serving officers, as well as a nostalgic trip for those who served during this period.