This section contains information and photographs relating to the British Transport Commission Police (later the British Transport Police) in Hartlepool. The BTP ceased policing the docks at Hartlepool when the Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority was formed. These docks had belonged to the L.N.E.R. until the nationalisation of the railways in 1948.
THC - Offshore Fabricators based at Victoria Dock, imitating the local legend of a monkey once being hung as a 'spy', started their own tradition by "hanging" a full-size effigy of a monkey, dressed in overalls, from their completed oil platform. This practice was discontinued after numerous 999 calls from the public, concerned that someone had hanged themselves from the rig. All later Load Outs had a small cuddly toy monkey attached instead.
More detail »Basic but functional, one of the Harbour Police vans at the Central Dock Head in 1984.
More detail »P.C. Alexander Waterland, back on duty after he had been stabbed and almost killed, by two German seamen returning to their ship after they had robbed a shop in Lynn Street, West Hartlepool, in February 1956.
More detail »A family of swans pays a visit to the Hartlepool Lifeboat The Scout tied up at the Central Dock Head, Hartlepool Docks. On the quayside is the Harbour Master's Office (top porta-cabin), and the Harbour Police Office.
More detail »A stolen Rover Mini Metro recovered from the sea, by the outer wall South Pier, West Harbour. This vehicle was traced back to Germany and for some reason had been dumped in the sea.
More detail »The West Hartlepool Section, Rail & Docks, of the British Transport Commission Police, taken outside their offices in Victoria Terrace, in 1952.
More detail »West Hartlepool Section, Docks & Railways, outside their offices in Victoria Terrace, in 1952.
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