New powers for oldest police force

MINSTER POLICE played a key role in protecting the cathedral in the fire of 1984 and more recently in 2009.
The York Minster police team who have been attested as Cathedral Contstables and sworn to the York Minster Accustomed Oath, pictured from left, Roshan Tamang, Daniel O'Malley, Steven Wilkinson, Jessica Cook, Mark Sutcliffe, Adam Rickers, Stephen Patrick, Beverley Martin and Kadir Turcan.
Picture: Anthony Chappel-RossThe York Minster police team who have been attested as Cathedral Contstables and sworn to the York Minster Accustomed Oath, pictured from left, Roshan Tamang, Daniel O'Malley, Steven Wilkinson, Jessica Cook, Mark Sutcliffe, Adam Rickers, Stephen Patrick, Beverley Martin and Kadir Turcan.
Picture: Anthony Chappel-Ross
The York Minster police team who have been attested as Cathedral Contstables and sworn to the York Minster Accustomed Oath, pictured from left, Roshan Tamang, Daniel O'Malley, Steven Wilkinson, Jessica Cook, Mark Sutcliffe, Adam Rickers, Stephen Patrick, Beverley Martin and Kadir Turcan. Picture: Anthony Chappel-Ross

When lightning struck the roof of the south transept 33 years ago, starting a fire which caused millions of pounds of damage, the quick action of a Minster Police officer in raising the alarm helped limit the damage.

And in December 2009, a Minster Police officer discovered a blaze which had started in the Cathedral’s stone yard.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the time, the Minster’s Great East Window was being stored in the yard. Minster Police officers, together with other members of staff and firefighters, managed to move the window’s panels to safety – saving one of the most important examples of medieval stained glass in the world.

York Minster Police, Circa 1900's.York Minster Police, Circa 1900's.
York Minster Police, Circa 1900's.

Officers work out of their office, marked by two old-fashioned truncheons, located in the choir aisle and work round-the-clock 365 days of the year. They wear numerals on their epaulettes together with the Minster’s crest of crossed keys surmounted by a crown.