Andrew Smith (1880-1931), Chief Constable of Glasgow, 1922-1931.
A native of Wigtownshire, Smith joined Liverpool City Police in 1901 and moved to Glasgow in 1902. By 1905 he held the rank of Inspector and in 1907 he was promoted to Lieutenant and Chief Clerk. In 1912 he was promoted to Superintendent and he became Assistant Chief Constable in 1917. An efficient administrator, he won praise for organising the Special Constables during the First World War and for arrangements for royal tours. He was appointed Chief Constable in 1922.
Smith was regarded as an authority on licensing laws, a hot topic in the 1920s. Another thorny issue he had to deal with was the General Strike in May 1926. All leave was cancelled, and policemen were required to work fifteen-hour shifts. Their main duties were the protection of buses and trains being driven by volunteers, and of lorries delivering essential supplies. There were numerous violent clashes throughout the city between police and strikers, but the situation returned to normal once the strike was called off.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC 052 BAI
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
chief constables, General Strike, inspectors, licensing laws, Liverpool City Police, police officers, policemen, riots, strikers
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