Prison & Police Museum
In 1830, Samuel Winn was appointed as the first professional and uniformed Police Officer for the Liberty of Ripon.
He was paid a salary of £30 per annum and this was raised to £30 per quarter in 1832. One wonders what he had done to merit such a large increase in salary as well as what happened later when this was reduced to £25 per quarter in 1838 – possibly having to cut costs? Unfortunately to date we have not been able to find out! He was employed to supervise the unpaid constables in the Liberty from his home in Middle Street, Ripon. In 1832, Winn was involved with the City Police in the trial of Elisha Sinkler, one of two notorious poacher brothers from Pateley Bridge at York assizes where he gave evidence that, at Stone Beck Down and Dacre with Bewerley, Elisha feloniously counselled, aided and abetted his brother John in wounding Thomas Dinsdale with intent to resist and prevent the lawful apprehension and detaining of the brothers.
In 1840, he was involved in a case of two brothers called Atkinson who were charged with burglaries in the Ripon area and were sentenced to transportation when they appeared at York Assize Court. He disappeared for some unknown reason in 1841 and was replaced in 1842. He was eventually declared bankrupt.
Samuel’s police rattle is part of the Ripon Museum Trust collection.