London Labour and the London Poor, Vol. 4 - Henry Mayhew

Division and Local Name.	Number known to the Police.
	Total.	Well dressed who live in Brothels.	Who walk the Streets.
	Total.	Well dressed who live in Brothels.	Well dressed.	All others.
A or Whitehall	None.	None.	None.	None.
B or Westminster	469	177	17	275
C or St. James	208	58	150	..
D or St. Mary’bone	428	143	133	152
E or Holborn	511	173	58	280
F or Covent Garden	428	50	204	174
G or Finsbury	225	24	33	168
H or Whitechapel	811	73	82	656
K or Stepney	1015	..	310	705
L or Lambeth	657	147	207	303
M or Southwark	661	53	140	468
N or Islington	441	90	136	215
P or Camberwell	222	44	96	82
R or Greenwich	570	172	124	274
S or Hampstead	331	14	56	261
T or Kensington	97	..	5	92
V or Wandsworth	187	14	40	133
Totals	7,261	1,232	1,791	4,238

This is the latest return that the authorities at Whitehall are in possession of. It will be seen that the largest number of prostitutes are in Stepney; but the prostitution in this district, it would appear, is of a low description, and mostly ambulatory, as no evidence of any women living in brothels is given in the return.

The registered increase since 1857, is in most districts absolutely nothing, whilst the decrease in many localities contrasts very favourably indeed with the increase. For instance:—

Increase since last return, made in July, 1857.		Decrease since last return, made in July, 1857.
A	None	A	None
B	..	B	55
C	..	C	110
D	..	D	98
E	..	E	35
F	..	F	52
G	..	G	124
H	..	H	992
K	..	K	50
L	..	L	145
M	..	M	6
N	..	N	4
P	..	P	6
R	169	R	..
S	100	S	..
T	..	T	9
V	..	V	22
Total	269		1,708

The police have thought it necessary to make special arrangements in special localities, to prevent disorder and enforce the law.

Special Arrangements of Police made, and at what places, to prevent disorder and enforce the law.

Division and Local Name.
A or Whitehall	Cockspur Street—an additional constable occasionally. St. James’s, Green, and Hyde Parks—additional constables during summer months.
C—St. James	Regent Street, Waterloo Place, Quadrant, Haymarket, and Coventry Street—four additional constables (and sometimes more) from 3 P.M. to 3 A.M., daily.
D—St. Marylebone	Oxford Street, Edgeware Road. Harrow Road, and Paddington Green—one additional constable from 7 P.M. to 6 A.M., daily. Regent’s Park and Bayswater Road—two additional constables from 9 A.M. to 6 A.M., following day. Portland Place—an additional constable from 10 P.M. to 6 A.M.
E—Holborn	Lower Regent Street and Portland Place—one additional constable from 7 P.M. to 10 P.M.; one ditto from 7 P.M. till 2 A.M.; two additional constables from 10 P.M. till 2 A.M., and a sergeant in plain clothes.
F—Covent Garden	Strand—a sergeant, and occasionally constables. Long Acre—a constable frequently.
H—Whitechapel	St. George’s Street and High Street, Whitechapel—a constable, and a short beat, each place.
L—Lambeth	Waterloo Road, Herbert’s Buildings, and Granby Street—an additional sergeant and two constables patrolling.
S—Hampstead	Regent’s Park—an additional constable to patrol. Primrose Hill—two additional constables for eight hours after Park constables go off duty.

Comparative Return of the Number of Prostitutes known to the Police, at four different periods, within the last seventeen years.

Division and Local Name.	In 1841	In 1850	In 1857	In 1858
A or Whitehall
B „ Westminster		660	524	469
C „ St. James’s		390	318	208
D „ St. Marylebone		429	526	428
E „ Holborn		461	546	511
F „ Covent Garden		698	480	428
G „ Finsbury		320	349	225
H „ Whitechapel		474	1803	811
K „ Stepney		827	965	1015
L „ Lambeth		854	802	657
M „ Southwark		531	667	661
N „ Islington		457	445	441
P „ Camberwell		152	228	222
R „ Greenwich		288	401	570
S „ Hampstead		216	231	331
T „ Kensington		92	106	97
V „ Wandsworth		157	209	187
Totals	6598	7006	8600	7261
Note.—The total number only for 1841 can now be given.

These are the only statistics relative to prostitution that I have been able to procure—indeed I may almost say they are the only ones procurable; and for them I am indebted to the courtesy of the authorities at Whitehall, who, during my researches, have most kindly afforded me every facility that I could wish for.