A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis / Containing a Detail of the Various Crimes and Misdemeanors by which Public and Private Property and Security are, at Present, Injured and Endangered: and Suggesting Remedies for their Prevention

by Patrick Colquhoun

Disposed of as follows, viz.

Executed	32
Died	25
Sent to the Hulks	2
Transported	517
Removed to other Prisons	95
Transferred to the new Sheriffs	151
Discharged upon the town	711
	1533

Thus it appears that murders, as well as several other very atrocious crimes, are committed, where officers of justice are not entitled to any reward for their trouble and risque in apprehending the offenders.

Receivers of stolen Goods in particular, who, as has been repeatedly stated, are the nourishers and supporters of thieves, and who, of all other offenders, are of that class where the greatest benefit to the public is to arise from their discovery and apprehension, seem to be totally overlooked.

If it should be thought too loose a system to allow rewards not exceeding a certain sum in any one case, to be distributed according to the discretion of the Judges who try the offence; perhaps it might be possible to form a scale of premiums from one guinea up to fifty pounds, which, by holding out certain encouragement in all cases whatsoever, might not only excite a desire on the part of men of some property and respectability to become Officers of Justice: but would create that species of constant vigilance and attention to the means of apprehending every class of offenders, which cannot be expected at present, while the rewards are so limited.

The Officers of Justice, (parochial and stipendiary) who are appointed to watch over the Police of the Metropolis and its environs, in keeping the peace, and in detecting and apprehending offenders, amount at present (as near as possible) to 1040 individuals, under five separate jurisdictions, and are arranged as follows:

Officers, &c.

London, 1st.	The City of London in25 Wards, exclusive ofBridge Without.	City Marshals	2
		Marshals' Men	6
		Beadles	36
	Parochial Constables	Principals	98
		Substitutes	145
			243
		Extra Officers	32
				319
Westminster, 2d.	The City and Libertyof Westminster, 9parishes and 2 precincts	High Constable	1
		Parochial Constables	70
				71
Middlesex, 3d.	The Division ofHolborn, in Middlesex,joining the Metropolis,in 13 parishes,liberties, and manors	High Constable	1
		Parochial Constables & Headboroughs	78
				79
	The Division ofFinsbury, in Middlesex,joining the Metropolis4 parishes and1 liberty	High Constable	1
		Parochial Constables & Headboroughs	68
				69
	The Division calledthe Tower Hamlets,including the easternpart of the Metropolis,and comprehending 10parishes, 4 hamlets, 1liberty, and 2 precincts	High Constable	1
		Parochial Constables & Headboroughs	217
				218
Tower Liberty, 4th.	The liberty of theTower of London,being a separatejurisdiction	High Constable	1
		Constables & Headboroughs	16
				17
	The Division ofKensington, Chelsea, &c.comprehending 2 parishesand 3 hamlets	High Constable
		Parochial Constables & Headboroughs
				22
Surry, 5th.	The Borough ofSouthwark, &c.comprehending 9 Parishes.	High Constable	1
		Constables	87
				88
Total Parochial Officers				883

To which are to be added the stated Officers of Police, specially appointed for the purpose of preventing crimes, and of detecting and apprehending offenders.

1. The establishment at Bow-Street, under the direction of the three Magistrates presiding at that Office, viz. Constables		6
and (under the direction of Sir W. Addington, Knt.) Patroles for the Road		68
			74
2. The establishment of seven Public Offices by the Act of the 32d of his present Majesty, cap. 53, under the direction of three Magistrates at each Office, viz.
Constables at the Public Office,	Queen-Square	6
—	Marlborough-St.	6
—	Hatton Garden	6
—	Worship-Street	6
—	Whitechapel	6
—	Shadwell	6
—	Union Hall, Southw.	6
			42
Total Civil Force in the Metropolis			999
To which add the Civil Force of the Thames Police Establishment;[116] established in July 1798, under the sanction of Government			41
		Total	1040