Title:
Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police
Level: Category
Sound Archive
Level: Fonds
ESSEX POLICE: 'SWORN TO SERVE' ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS
Level: Series
Interviews by Maureen Scollan
Scope and Content:
Interview with Sir John Nightingale at his home in Purleigh by Inspector Maureen Scollan on Wednesday 7 March 1991.

TAPE 1: SIDE A - joined Metropolitan Police as Constable in 1935; details early career before he came to Essex; joined Essex Police as Assistant Chief Constable in 1958; describes the set up of the Essex Police at that time, and domestic arrangements when he became Chief Constable; changing times as a result of changes to the government of Greater London, in particular the transfer of the Romford Division to the Metropolitan Police; Essex Police short of manpower; problems of recruitment and wastage, particular problems with appointments to senior posts, and initiatives set up to counter this, such as his programme of sending officers to Essex University; his role in setting up Regional Crime Squad; his 'humane' policies in the housing of police officers and complaints against officers.

TAPE 1: SIDE B - political and practical difficulties involved in the amalgamation of Southend Borough force into Essex Police; his views on the role of women in the force; position of women officers when he joined Essex Police; the role of CID, the need for specialists among officers; the role of the Chief Constable in relation to major incidents; the policy of replacing officers with civilians in many roles; H.M. Inpectors of Constabulary, level of influence they had over him as Chief Constable.

TAPE 2: SIDE A - relationship with H.M. Inspectors, compares this with the Chief Constables of other forces; relationship between Chief Constable and Police Committee; discusses what happened to a senior officer at Southend who was found to be misusing funds.

TAPE 2: SIDE B - Blank
Dates of Creation:
7 March 1991 1991
Extent:
70 minutes
Creator Name:
Maureen Scollan
Admin History:
Sir John Nightingale was born 16 September 1913 and was Chief Constable of Essex from 1962 to 1978.
Copyright:
Closed for 30 years
Physical Characteristics:
2 cassettes
Related Unit of Description:
A transcript of this recording is available. Reference: SA 25/1/6/3
Not Available:
Not to be produced. Enquiries should be sent to the Essex Record Office, Wharf Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6YT

Key terms

TypeKey termsDescription
Subjects Police Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991
Subjects Women Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991, includes introduction of women police officers
Personal Names Sir
John
Nightingale 		Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991
Place Names Romford Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991, includes transfer of Romford Division to Metropolitan Police
Place Names Southend-on-Sea Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991, includes amalgamation of Southend Borough police into Essex Police
Document Types Sound recording Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991
Institutions H.M. Inspector Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991, includes relationship with H.M. Inspectors of Constabulary
Institutions Metropolitan Police Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991
Institutions University of Essex Interview with Sir John Nightingale, former Chief Constable of Essex Police, 1991, includes mention of programme to send police officers to university