The North Eastern Police History Society celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. Dedicated to preserving the history of policing from the Tees to the Tweed, the society enjoys a close working relationship with the region's forces. GAVIN HAVERY reports...

ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour, binge drinking and complaints that there aren't enough bobbies on the beat. Sounds familiar? It should do because these have been the major problems facing regional police chiefs for 160 years.

Durham Constabulary was raised in February 1836 in response to calls for something to be done about anti-social behaviour.

It faced formidable problems - not least manpower. The Durham City Borough Police force had just five constables to patrol the cathedral peninsular and Framwellgate, an area of 330 acres, home to 9,000 people.

As the city grew so did the force. Durham Constabulary's history is intertwined with the area it served but until recently that story - and the story of the region's other police forces - has been largely overlooked.

In 1995 a small group met at Durham Police headquarters, in Durham City, with the sole aim of preserving the history of policing in the North-East.

Their enthusiasm was actively encouraged by Durham Constabulary and in 1998 the North Eastern Police History Society took on the task of making an inventory of all historical property, including documents, photographs, and other accoutrements.

This year - its 10th anniversary - the society's annual exhibition Policing through the Ages is at Beamish Museum on the first Saturday and Sunday of July.

Chairman Harry Wynne said: "When one thinks that the Victorian Policeman worked a 12 hour day, no days off and had to wear his uniform at all times, it is correct to say that 'a policeman's lot was not a happy one'."

By the 1860s the number of officers in Durham City fluctuated between nine and 13 and the weekly pay was for a sergeant was a little over 33 shillings while a constable started on 24 shillings.

Within a quarter of a century the city population grew to 14,000 and included a large poverty-stricken Irish community.

Coupled with the rise came a growth in the number of alehouses and rowdiness as a result.

Dealing with drunkards and prostitution became the staple work of the boys in blue with 60 women arrested for plying their trade in the year running up to September 1860.

They also large amounts of youth disorder, nuisance and delinquency, contradicting the assumption that children were either up chimneys or seen and not heard.

The North Eastern Police History Society is always on the look out for memorabilia such as documents, photographs and equipment, including old fashioned truncheons, helmets, handcuffs and leg irons used by the region's forces.

The Society is also involved in the indexing of the bound sets of 'Police Reviews' and 'Police Chronicles' in relation to the North Eastern Forces. These volumes have been presented to Beamish North of England Open Air Museum by Durham Constabulary Mr Wynne said: "We are a mixed group of individuals with one aim in mind, to preserve the history of the police forces in the North-East of England.

"We are always on the lookout for police memorabilia from the area and can copy pictures and return photographs straight away."

* For more information or to share police memories call Harry Wynne on 0191-565 7215.