First Policeman Killed in Kent | Retracing the Final Steps of PC Israel May 1873

In this short documentary, I investigate the murder of PC Israel May, the first Kent County Constabulary officer to be killed on duty. On a quiet summer night in Snodland in 1873, PC May was found dead in a turnip field — beaten with a blunt weapon, his truncheon missing, and the prime suspect already fleeing across rural Kent.

This video explores the real history behind the case, the night of the attack, the inquest and trial, and the long-term legacy of May’s death. Using contemporary reports, police records, and historical archives, we retrace the final hours of PC May’s patrol and uncover how a drunken confrontation turned into one of the most shocking crimes in early British policing.

Along the way, I visit locations connected to the story, including Snodland, where PC May was found, and All Saints’ Churchyard, where his memorial still stands today.

If you’re into true crime, Victorian history, Kent heritage, or stories of the earliest police officers in Britain, this one’s for you.

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⏱️ Sections

0:00 – Intro: A Fatal Night in Snodland
0:43 – Setting the Scene
6:01 – The Gruesome Discovery
09:30 – The Manhunt & Arrest
11:09 – Trial & Verdict
13:14 – The Funeral & Aftermath

📚 Sources & Verification

Kent County Constabulary historical records

Contemporary newspaper reporting (1873)

Snodland Historical Society

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And let me know in the comments: have you heard of PC Israel May’s murder before, or is this your first time discovering this forgotten Kent tragedy?

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