Police Force Lancashire 1911-12

[pamgreen]

Please does anyone know if when someone joined the Police Force at age 21 in 1911-12 in Lancashire. Would they have been required to produce their Birth Certificate for Proof of Age Thanks Pam

[Olde Crone Holden]

It depends what the recruiting age was, sorry, I don't know.

However, even if proof of age were required, it might not have been by birth cert, it could have been a baptism certificate or even written proof by someone that the person was over 21.

OC

[keldon]

Found these in the newspapers:

This man from 1898 tendered a forged birth certificate while trying to join the Metropolitan Police.

http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/browse.jsp?id=def1-427-18980620&div=t18980620-427#highlight

In 1898 Cornwall Constabulary started asking for birth certificates as part of the recruitment process.

In 1908 a man was convicted of uttering a forged birth certificate during the recruitment process for The Lancashire Constabulary.

In 1929 Hull City Police required a birth certificate and testimonials and verified inquiries by the police in the area the applicant lived.

[Olde Crone Holden]

That's interesting, thanks Phil. I do wonder if it was more to do with identification than actual proof of age, though.

OC