This Month in History: The Birth of West Yorkshire Police, 1st April 1974

April 2025 Edition

Fifty-one years ago this month, a major chapter in local policing history began. On the 1st April 1974, West Yorkshire Police was officially formed, marking the end of Bradford City Police and the start of a new era in law enforcement.

This change came as part of a nationwide shake-up under the Local Government Act 1972, which reorganised local authorities and created the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire. As a result, several smaller forces - including Bradford City Police, Leeds City Police, and the West Riding Constabulary - were merged into one unified force: West Yorkshire Police.

For Bradford, this meant saying goodbye to its independent police force, which had served the city since 1847. Officers were transferred to the new organisation, uniforms changed, and command structures evolved, but the dedication to public service remained the same.

At the Bradford Police Museum, we proudly preserve the legacy of Bradford City Police and explore the stories of the officers who made the transition to West

Yorkshire Police. Within our collection is a Farewell To Bradford Police LP, which was issued in 1974 by the Bradford City Police Band. After this time, the Bradford City Police Band and Leeds City Police Band joined together to form The West Yorkshire Police Bank which continues to raise money for charity today.