Watch committee
# Watch committee

In England and Wales, watch committees were the local government bodies which oversaw policing from 1835 until, in some areas, 1968.

## Establishment

The Municipal Corporations Act 1835 required each borough to establish a "watch committee" and to appoint constables to 'preserve the peace'.

## Disestablishment

From 1889 counties switched to using "standing joint committees" which also had magistrates among their members. For police forces working within a single borough, watch committees were retained.

The Police Act 1964 replaced both sets of bodies with police authorities, comprising two-thirds elected members of county or borough councils, and one-third magistrates.

