As we remember those who have defended our freedoms this weekend, we wanted to highlight the work policing, and CTP's predecessor Special Branch, did during the First and Second World Wars. Throughout the First World War, policing worked closely with the newly formed MI5 to protect the UK from espionage, Special Branch was tasked with arresting suspicious foreign nationals, in total arresting 31 foreign agents who were convicted of spying. During the Second World War, the bombing of UK towns and cities added additional pressure to the police. Alongside air raid wardens, police were responsible for the sounding of air raid sirens, preventing black market trading, as well as supporting the fire service with search and rescue of bombing sites. Special Branch were tasked alongside MI5 to monitor foreign spies and informants, as well as monitoring Fascist and Communist organisations, issuing over 1,400 detention orders, which effectively neutralised the Fascist movement in the UK. The work of policing during the world wars cannot be understated, their hard work and determination helped keep the streets of the UK safe during its darkest hours. 📷 | Metropolitan Police Museum If you want to find out more about the history of policing, you can get in touch with the Museum team: https://lnkd.in/e5SHp37Q
We will remember
Senior Leader and Chartered Manager
2wWhen captured German intelligence records were studied after 1945, it was found that almost all of the 115 agents targeted against Britain during the course of the war had been successfully identified and arrested by experienced Detectives of the Police Special Branches. SBs worked closely with the Security Service MI5 as they do today. One of the most notorious Nazi spies of the Second World War period, Capt.Herman Görtz, landed in Harwich Port Essex on 29th August 1935. He spied very effectively for several months on RAF bases before being detected by MI5. He was subsequently arrested prior to boarding an outbound ferry by Essex Police Special Branch on 8th November 1935. He was charged and remanded to Brixton Prison. Then convicted under the Official Secrets Act, where luckily for him, his death sentenced was commuted to imprisonment . For him the war was over before it even started!