Recently the murder of a local woman during World War Two has been the subject of some discussion.

An earlier and less well-known case is that of Eliza Smallwood, a young teenager, who died in July 1832. Eliza worked in a nailshop next to her home near the Crab Mill in Birmingham Road. When the incident that led to her death occurred she was with her stepfather William Crawford, Charles Metcalf and Mrs Emus.

As she worked, Eliza caught Crawford's fingers with one of the red-hot iron rods that she was using to make nails. Crawford swore and lashed out with the rod he was working on, stabbing her in the back.

Mrs Emus pulled the rod out and Eliza managed to reach her home before dying a few minutes later. An inquest held at the Crab Mill returned a verdict of man-slaughter. Mr Kings, the town constable, took Crawford to Worcester to await trial. Crawford, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted at Worcester Assizes and was sentenced to 18 months' hard labour.

Before Worcestershire Constabulary was established in 1839, local men like Mr Kings were appointed by the Court Leet to keep order in Bromsgrove. The town's first police station was in the Strand and had four cells. During the 1840s, a police station was built in Station Street with accommodation for the superintendent and a constable, as well as their families.

On November 25, 1890, a new station and magistrates' court opened on the corner of Ednall Lane and the Crescent. Designed by Henry Rowe, the county surveyor, it was built by Tilt and Weaver at a total cost of about £5,000. The station had a charge room, six cells and accommodation for the superintendent, a sergeant, a married constable and six unmarried policemen.

Local dignitaries and the chief constable, Colonel Car-michael, attended the opening ceremony. Those present were able to view a display of old and new batons, handcuffs, leg irons, alarm rattles and swords.

In April 1956, Worcestershire Constabulary placed an advertisement in the Bromsgrove Messenger seeking recruits. Those wishing to apply needed to be aged between 19 and 29 and measure at least five feet nine inches. Annual pay was £475. Constables would be allocated quarters or a rent allowance. Opportunities to play football and rugby were mentioned.

When not on duty many of Bromsgrove's police officers have been active sportsmen and women. Superintendent Arthur Penrice, a Sidemoor man who served with Birmingham city police, was chairman of that force's boxing committee. In January 1928, The Bromsgrove Messenger told how while he was in the Grenadier Guards during the 1890s, Penrice swam from Gibraltar to the Spanish mainland on three occasions. The article described how: "He was not aware of the presence of sharks and only learned afterwards that one of these big fish was his attendant for some time on one of his swims and appeared to be taking some interest in him." What is there for today's police officer with an interest in pursuing a sport? A glance at the website of Police Sport UK lists almost 40 sports participated in across the country, including crown green bowls and curling, water polo and wrestling, but, there is, it seems, no longer any place for boxing.