Former officer lifts the lid on force history

Without Fear or Favour’ – The History of the Royal Burgh of Dumfries Police 1788-1932 by John Maxwell will be launched at the Ewart Library in Dumfries next week.
It tracks the force from its earliest development in 1788 to the amalgamation with the Dumfriesshire County police in 1932.
Retired police officer John has spent 15 years researching his book. He chronicles how the force began, how it developed, who was in charge and most importantly, the names of all the officers that can be found to have served with the force from 1788 until 1932.
The overall theme is really about the people, officers, victims and criminals and gives an insight into the development of Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian Dumfries that perhaps has been missed over the years.
For example, in 1787 King George 3rd. signed the ‘Beer Act’ (27G.3.C.57), that allowed Dumfries Burgh council to gather tax to pay for “…..a measure to provide for the paving, cleansing, lighting and watching of the burgh, for which there had long been felt a necessity.”
The launch night takes place on May 28 from 6.30 pm and the author will also take part in a book signing at Georgetown Library on June 1 at 6 pm.