Where can I obtain photographs or illustrations of police?

The chances of obtaining a photograph of an individual, named policeman or policewoman is practically nil before the 1960s, as it is only then that police forces kept personnel files with photographs. For the photograph of a policeman during this period advice should be sought from the force in question or its successor.

For photographs relating to policing in general there are two main sources: police museums and heritage societies; and local authority archives and libraries.

If there are little or no surviving photographs of police personnel etc, it may be worthwhile looking through street photographs for the period in question, if you have the time, as these sometimes include policemen directing traffic or on the beat, photographed by chance or design by the photographer.