A county to be proud of

Facts and figures

POLITICAL

Bedfordshire is divided into three local government districts: Bedford Borough, Mid Bedfordshire District and South Bedfordshire District.

Luton Borough is a unitary authority and does not come under County Council control.

The Department for Communities and Local Government is considering reorganising Bedfordshire's administrative structure, and this reorganisation is due to be implemented no later than 1st April 2009.

Bedfordshire has six elected MPs: 3 representing the Labour Party and 3 representing the Conservatives.

POPULATION

The geographical county of Bedfordshire, which includes Luton, has a population of about 590,700

HISTORICAL TRIVIA

With over 150 scheduled ancient monuments and 3,000 listed buildings, Bedfordshire is rich in history and heritage.

The county of Bedfordshire has been inhabited for over 125,000 years and the remains of prehistoric and Roman settlements have been found here.

Famous residents of Bedfordshire include John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress; Charles Wells, founder of the Charles Wells Brewery, still a prominent brewery in the area; Trevor Huddleston, president of the British Anit-Apartheid Movement; Glenn Miller and John Howard, and more recently, Paula Radcliffe and Matt Skelton.

HISTORY OF POLICING IN BEDFORDSHIRE

The first professional Police Force in Bedfordshire was established in 1839, replacing a former system of elected parish constables. It then comprised 1 Chief Constable, 6 Superintendents and 40 Constables.

Luton was an independent borough force from 1876 to 1947 and then from 1964 to 1966. The force was then known as Bedfordshire and Luton Constabulary from 1966 to 1974 until becoming Bedfordshire Police, as it is now known.

Since 1840, Bedfordshire Police has had 13 Chief Constables.

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