Cambridgeshire

Police

History

Notes

Policing the Borough of Wisbech in the Isle of Ely

| Introduction | Superintendent Burke and the Wisbech Watch Committee | Biography William Martin Burke |

Policing Wisbech

Currently, material on policing wisbech in this section of the site is mainly an article, written in the 1980s, in response to a request sent to West Yorkshire Police by somebody researching their family tree. They were hoping for some information about William Martin Burke, an ancestor, who was a policemen in Yorkshire and at Wisbech.

Research showed that William's service as chief officer of Wisbech Borough Police was short but eventful. The narrative shows that, in 19th Century policing, the relationship between a Watch Committee and Chief Officer could be difficult, to say the least.

When he came to Wisbech, William Martin Burke had served in the army for five years, had worked as a prison Warder and had over ten years police experience. William was said to have had printed a 40 page foolscap book of the testimonials he had received from members of the aristocracy, magistrates, recorders and barristers in the West Riding of Yorkshire before he came to Wisbech. (Cambridge Chronicle 26 January 1861 p6) William's main protagonist, Richard Young, the Mayor of Wisbech, was a shrewd successful shipping owner who served as Mayor and Chair of the Watch Committee for four years before becoming a Member of Parliament. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Young_(MP). Both men were used to having their own way.

This link will take you to the article and this link will take you to a potted Biography of Superintendent Burke.

There is much more to be discovered about policing Wisbech and we would welcome any contributions on the topic.

Isle of Ely Officers at Wisbech 1920s?

This page was last modified: 06 November 2025, 13:16

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