| Entry Type | Corporate |
| Corporate Name | Derbyshire Constabulary |
| Also Known As | Derby Borough and County Constabulary 1967-1973 |
| Epithet | Police service for Derbyshire |
| Dates | 1857- |
| Biography | The Derbyshire Constabulary was formed in March 1857 with a force of 156 officers. Originally controlled by the magistrates of the Quarter Sessions, the Local Government Act 1888 passed control from the Quarter Sessions to the Standing Joint Committee. The Constabulary's Headquarters were originally at Belper Police Station, but by 1859 the headquarters had moved to Derby. It was temporarily located in St. James' Terrace before finally moving to St. Mary's Gate. Barracks were formed in various areas of the county until 1892. Establishing the Force does not appear to have been an easy task; early lapses in discipline and lawlessness within the ranks saw Divisional Superintendents issued with cutlasses, the intention being to pass these onto those working under their command for their own protection.
The municipal boroughs of Derby and Chesterfield had their own borough police forces, and in 1867, Glossop became a municipal borough and established its own police force. In April 1947, however, Glossop Borough Police and Chesterfield Borough Police merged with the Derbyshire Constabulary. The Constabulary's Headquarters moved to Matlock in April 1958. Derby retained a separate police force until April 1967 when it merged with the county constabulary and the force was renamed the Derby County and Borough Constabulary. The headquarters moved to Butterley Hall, Ripley, in December 1970 and the name Derbyshire Constabulary was re-adopted following boundary changes in 1973. By 1981, the Force had grown to 1767 officers. |
| Address | Butterley, Ripley |
| Authorised Form of Name | Derbyshire Constabulary; 1857-; Police service for Derbyshire |
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