The “Old Police” System (Pre-1856)

Prior to professionalization, law enforcement in Anglesey was a fragmented, reactive endeavor.

• Parish Constables: Policing was the duty of parish constables, who were typically local householders appointed by rotation for one-year terms. They were often unpaid and reluctant to enforce laws against their neighbors.
• The Hue and Cry: If a crime occurred, the village relied on the medieval “hue and cry,” requiring all able-bodied men to assist in pursuing the criminal.
• The A5 Catalyst: In the 1820s, Thomas Telford’s development of the A5 “post road” radically changed Gwalchmai. The village split into a stable agrarian “Upper Gwalchmai” and a more volatile “Lower Gwalchmai” near the road, which brought a transient population of coachmen and travelers outside traditional social control.
• Resistance to Reform: Although the County Police Act 1839 allowed counties to form professional forces, Anglesey magistrates initially resisted due to the “police rate” tax and fears of a “peacetime army”

The Formation of the Anglesey Constabulary

The Anglesey Constabulary was officially established in 1856 following the County and Borough Police Act, which made professional forces mandatory.

• Headquarters: The Chief Constable’s Office was located in Llangefni.
• The Prothero Era: The force was led for over 50 years by the Prothero family: Lewis Thomas Prothero (1894–1918) and Robert Humphrey Prothero (1919–1949).
• Standards: Recruits were expected to be “respectable men,” often required to be at least 5 feet 10 inches tall, and worked a grueling seven-day week.
• Amalgamation: On October 1, 1950, the force amalgamated with those of Caernarvonshire and Merionethshire to form the Gwynedd Constabulary, which was renamed North Wales Police in 1974.

Policing in Gwalchmai

Gwalchmai occupied a critical role in the island’s policing due to its position on the A5 corridor. The “Old Police station” was in operation from 1892 until 1977.

• Operational Duties: The village constable used the Gwalchmai Order Book (1890–1903) to record daily tasks, including patrolling the A5, inspecting local inns like the Spite Inn, and enforcing vaccination regulations.
• The Lock-up: The Gwalchmai police station included a “lock-up” or strong room for the temporary confinement of prisoners before they were moved to Llangefni or Beaumaris.
• Station Legacy: The physical police station in Gwalchmai remained a landmark until the late 20th century, when it was closed and eventually converted for residential use.

The Murder of PC Robert Pritchard (1924)

AC6 Robert Pritchard joined the police force at Holyhead in 1899. He served at Gwalchmai police station in 1919. He was killed on duty 22/11/1924 aged 50 with 8 children. Mr Owen a land agent from Llangefni went to visit Cemaes farm near Gwalchmai to collect a rent debt of £27 ( £1400 today) which had been due for more than a month. However the tenant John Davies (60) told the agent to leave at gun point.

A report in the Welsh language newspaper Yr Herald Cymraeg at the time reports Mr Owen was told to “dos i’r lôn y diawl neu mi saetha’i di (go back to the road or I’ll shoot you)”.

Despite living at Cemaes most of his life Davies had been served notice to quit by his cousin and he had been “deeply shocked” by the decision.

After fleeing Cemaes Mr Owen went to the village and found the local constable, PC Robert Pritchard. Upon hearing the story both men returned to Cemaes.

Leaving Mr Owen outside the house with Davies’ wife the officer went in to speak with the gun-toting farmer. Within minutes of PC Pritchard entering the house those standing outside heard the crack of a gunshot. The officer had been shot in the chest.

Unfortunately the Gwalchmai doctor was ill in bed and help was summoned instead from Llangefni.He took the injured officer in his car to the old Caernarfon and Anglesey hospital (C&A) in Bangor.Sadly the officer succumbed to his injuries the following day.

Meanwhile more police officers, two inspectors and three constables, had arrived at Gwalchmai and stationed themselves around the house. It was getting dark and the officers were nervous of gaining entry to the house. Realising the only light showing in the property was from an upstairs window they concluded Davies, and his family, had retired to bed and the officers went back to their police stations.

They returned the next morning and Mr Davies wife handed them the gun. Mr Davies was taken to holyhead was accused of shooting with malice and intent.But this charge was soon amended to murder when news from the hospital of PC Pritchard’s death was received.

At his inquest, held a few days later, the jury returned a verdict of murder. Pathologist Dr Douglas Walter Hume said PC Pritchard had died of shot due to a gunshot.

PC Pritchard name has been added to the National Police memorial in Londaon.

During an appearance before magistrates at Llanerch-y-medd Davies interrupted the proceedings when it was said he had acted unreasonably in custody and that six police officers were needed to bring him into court.Davies spoke no English and the lady magistrates spoke no Welsh – he said he had warned the constable not to approach him.

The case was adjourned and Davies appeared before a judge and jury at the Assizes in Beaumaris in January 1925.

A newspaper report said: “After he had climbed two or three I told him to stop and that leaving the house would be wise. The officer continued up the stairs and grabbed the barrel of the gun. I fell and while I was on the floor I heard the sound of a shot. I had no intention of shooting the officer.”

The jury took less than 15 minutes to return a verdict of manslaughter and as a result Davies avoided the hangman’s noose.

The judge handed him a seven year term of penal servitude.

Cultural and Linguistic Context

Policing in Anglesey faced unique challenges due to the divide between the English-speaking legal system and the Welsh-speaking population.

• “Land of White Gloves”: Anglesey was often called the “Land of White Gloves,” a term used when judges were presented with white gloves because there were no criminal cases to be heard.