Department: Social History

This rubber-covered lead pipe was confiscated by Detective Sergeant Samuel Flint during the 1920s. At this time rival gangs were fighting over control of Sheffield’s illegal betting activity. Those that were arrested were tried at the Court House at the corner of Castle Street and Waingate, but the sentencing of fines was not very effective in stopping their activities. In 1925 the police formed the Special Duties Squad to aggressively stop the gangs. The squad was disbanded in 1928 because they had proved to be successful, if controversial, in their methods.