The present Cambridgeshire Constabulary (1st April 1974 to the present day) and the Police Forces from which it evolved in the mid 1960's. Before amalgamation those forces were Cambridge City Police (evolved from Cambridge Borough Police), Cambridge County, Huntingdonshire Constabulary, (Wisbech Borough) amalgamated with The Isle of Ely Constabulary, and (Peterborough Liberty and Peterborough City) that became The Soke of Peterborough Combined Police Force. After amalgamation the new force was called The Mid Anglia Constabulary. After nine years the Mid Anglia Force became the present Cambridgeshire Constabulary.  Peterborough has now become a Unitary Authority but is still policed by the Cambridgeshire Constabulary.

Formation Dates of the Almalgamated Forces upto 1974

The chart below shows the formation dates of the main police forces which now make up the Cambridgeshire Constabulary. There were smaller ones such as Cottenham Police, Soham Police, Godmanchester Borough Police, Huntingdon Borough Police and others which were in existence in the 1800's  but little or nothing is known of them. If you can add any further information please let me know.

The Police Act 1856 prompted the creation of County police forces, including both Huntingdon County Constabulary, with its own Chief Constable, and the Liberty of Peterborough Police Force, sharing its Chief Constable with Northamptonshire Constabulary. In 1874 the City of Peterborough Constabulary was created with its own Chief Constable

The origins of Cambridgeshire Constabulary date back to 1836, when the first police force in what is now the county's boundary was set up in the city of Cambridge.

The Cambridge Borough Force employed just 30 police officers - a far cry from today!

Outside the city, there was no organised policing in Cambridgeshire for 15 years until, in 1851, the Cambridgeshire County Force was established with a total of 70 police officers.

The county boundary has changed much over the years, and areas which now form part of Cambridgeshire fared a little better in the 19th century.

The Isle of Ely had its own Constabulary from 1841. It included four districts - Ely, Wisbech, Whittlesey and Chatteris, each of which were self-contained and independent from one another.

Huntingdon had its own Parish Constables until 1857 when, because of an Act passed the previous year, a Police Committee was formed for Huntingdonshire and 40 police officers were appointed. The same Act prompted, in the north of the county, the introduction of the Liberty of Peterborough Constabulary in 1857.

In 1874 the city of Peterborough was granted a Charter of Incorporation and the Council was then required to appoint a Watch Committee and a Police Force for the city. The two were eventually amalgamated in 1946 to form the Peterborough Combined Police Force.

In 1965 the five police forces were voluntarily united to form the Mid-Anglia Constabulary, the headquarters of which was in Brampton.

In 1973, following the re-organisation of county boundaries, Cambridgeshire Constabulary was born.