Lothian and Borders Police was formed on 16 May 1975 from an amalgamation of Edinburgh City Police, Berwick Roxburgh and Selkirk Constabulary and Lothians and Peebles Constabulary.

 

Edinburgh City Police were formed in 1805. They amalgamated in 1920 with Leith Burgh Police, formed in 1806. Portobello had a force in 1858 but this amalgamated with Edinburgh-shire in 1859. However, in 1896 the City boundaries were extended and Portobello came into Edinburgh from that date.

 

Berwick Roxburgh and Selkirk Constabulary were formed in 1948 in an amalgamation of Berwickshire Constabulary (1850), Roxburgh Constabulary (1850) and Selkirkshire Constabulary (1846).

 

The Burgh of Kelso had a separate police force until 1881-1882 when it amalgamated with the County of Roxburgh. Hawick Burgh Police, formed in 1840, amalgamated with Roxburgh in 1930.

 

The Burgh of Galashiels also had its own force from 1850 to 1930 when it amalgamated with Selkirkshire Constabulary.

 

Lothians and Peebles Constabulary were formed in 1950 from an amalgamation of Haddingtonshire/East Lothian Constabulary (1832), Linlithgowshire/ West Lothian Constabulary (1840), Edinburghshire/Mid Lothian Constabulary (1840) and Peebles County Constabulary (1841).

 

Musselburgh had a separate force in 1835 under the control of George Henry List (CC of Haddingtonshire). 

 

Haddington Burgh had a force prior to 1874-1875.

 

North Berwick had a separate force to 1857-1858.

 

Dunbar Burgh had a separate force until 1869-1870.

 

The force ceased to exist on the formation of Police Scotland on 1 April, 2013, an auspicious date to choose indeed?

 

The images shown here show some of the insignia and equipment from the forces other than Edinburgh City and Leith Burgh that became Lothian and Borders Police.

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Lothian & Borders Police were formed on 16 May 1975 from the amalgamation of Edinburgh City Police, Lothians & Peebles Constabulary and Berwick Roxburgh & Selkirk Constabulary. 

 

The  new Force Headquarters (HQ) at Fettes Avenue in Edinburgh had been the former City HQ since 18 May 1974.

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The original Divisions were:

 

A Divn. Southside of City

B Divn. North of City

C Divn. West end of City

D Divn. Leith & Portobello

E Divn. East & Midlothian

F Divn. West Lothian

G Divn. Berwick, Roxburgh, Selkirk & Peebles Counties

T Divn. Traffic & Mounted section