It remains only for the Legislature to pass a Bill which has been prepared, grounded on more than a year's experience of the powers and regulations requisite for the purpose of giving full effect and permanency to this important Establishment, in order to secure to the Commerce and Revenue of the River Thames, those advantages which will arise from the Preservation of Property against the numerous and unexampled Depredations to which it was exposed; and the Revenue of the Crown from many frauds which arose not only from the loss of the Duties of Customs and Excise on goods plundered, but also from an extensive illicit trade, which has been controlled and prevented by the known vigilance of the River Guards, particularly during the night.
If to those advantages shall be added an increase of Salaries to the inferior Officers of the Customs and Excise employed on the River, the renovated morals and improved habits of multitudes heretofore deeply implicated in a species of turpitude, hurtful in the extreme to the Public interest, will become no less a matter of triumph than advantage to the Government of the Country. Every individual concerned in the Commerce of the Port, will rejoice to see so useful an Institution supported and rendered permanent by that Legislative Aid, upon which its ultimate success must in a great measure depend.
An evil of unexampled magnitude existed, for which an effectual remedy has been found:—not in Speculation, but proved in Practice to answer the purposes of future security.
Let the Legislature, therefore, avail itself of the measures which are proposed, by which incalculable benefits will be extended both to the Commerce, Revenue, and Police of the Port of London, especially when strengthened and invigorated by a Central Board.
Prevention of Plunder of Public Stores: in Ships of War, Dock-yards, &c.
The collateral Influence of the Marine Police System, in checking in an eminent degree, the Embezzlements and Pillage of his Majesty's Stores in Ships and Public Arsenals, within the limits of its Jurisdiction, is the strongest proof which can be adduced of what may be expected by applying a similar System to all the Dock-yards in the Kingdom. In the [9th Chapter] of this Treatise, the Evils and the Remedies are so minutely detailed as to render a reference only necessary to pages [264] to [287].—If the measures there suggested shall be adopted by the Legislature and the Lords of the Admiralty, little doubt can be entertained of complete success in securing the Public Property (unparalleled in point of extent in any nation in the world)[204] against those Frauds and Depredations to which it has heretofore been exposed to a very large amount annually.
Prevention of Crimes in general.
It has been demonstrated in the course of this Work, that the more atrocious offences of Highway and Footpad Robberies, Burglaries, and other acts of Felony[205] may be greatly diminished, if not nearly annihilated by improved Laws and a responsible Agency, through the medium of a well-regulated Board of Police to carry those Laws into effect.
It must, however, be obvious to the Reader, from what has been repeatedly stated, that it is not by any single regulation, nor by any portion of civil strength, however well it may be systematized, that this desirable object is to be effected.
Success in any material degree is only to be expected from a combination of the various controlling regulations which have been proposed, with a vigorous and energetic civil force, and a correct and pointed execution of the Laws and Regulations, upon which the Preventive System is founded.—These Regulations may be summed up under the following heads: