Royal Ulster Constabulary

The Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC, Constáblacht Ríoga Uladh ) was the organizational form of the police in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2001. It was created on the occasion of the Irish partition on June 1, 1922 from the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC). It comprised a maximum of 8,500 officers with an additional 4,500 reservists in the controversial Ulster Special Constabulary . In 2001 the RUC was reorganized as the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

history

The RUC was officially founded on June 1, 1922. The headquarters of the new police association was established in the Atlantic Buildings in Belfast . Charles Wickham was the first inspector-general. The RUC was largely identical to the previous Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), from which it also took on the dual task of police and maintaining the political status quo . As in the RIC (and in contrast to Great Britain and the south of Ireland ), all members were armed. Instead of the previous dark blue one, they wore a dark green uniform.

In recognition of the courage and bravery of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in the performance of her service, the British Queen Elizabeth II awarded her the St. George's Cross in 1999 .

literature

Richard Doherty: The Thin Green Line. The History of the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC, 1922-2001. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Military, 2004. ISBN 1-84415-058-5