[116] The Thames Police Establishment fluctuates according to the Season of the year, and the number of West India ships on the River.—
| The permanent force in House Constables, Boat Surveyors, and Water Officers, &c. is | 41 | |
| The fluctuating Civil Force in | Ship Constables | 150 |
| Quay Guards | 30 | |
| Total Civil Force of the Marine Police Establishment when the West-India Fleets are in port | 221 | |
[117] There is, in some respect, an exception to this rule, with regard to the City and Liberty of Westminster, and the parishes of St. Clement Danes,—St. Mary le Strand,—The Savoy, The united parishes of St. Giles and St. George, Bloomsbury,—The united parishes of St. Andrew, Holborn above the Bars, and St. George the Martyr, and the liberty of Saffron Hill, Hatton Garden, and Ely Rents.—The Act of the 14th George III. cap. 90, contains regulations applicable to the whole of these Parishes and Liberties, fixing the minimum of watchmen at 523, and patroles at 56 men, for the whole; but leaving the management still to the inhabitants of each respective Parish or Liberty. The same act fixes the minimum of wages at 1s. a night, and patroles 15d. In the City of London, the salaries given to watchmen vary in each Ward, from 13l. to 18l. 19l. 20l. 21l. 7s. 23l. 8s. up to 26l. and patroles are allowed from 13l. to 35l. and 40l. a year.
[118] This proves how highly meritorious the conduct of the Managers and Trustees of this branch of the Police of the Metropolis must, in many instances, be. There can indeed be no manner of doubt, but that great advantages arise from dividing the labour, where all the benefits of local knowledge enter into the system.—So far as this goes, it ought not to be disturbed. But it is also necessary to consider the Metropolis as a great Whole, and to combine the organs of Police which at present exist, in such a manner, by a general superintendance, as to give equal encouragement, and to instil one principle of universal energy into all its parts.
[119] Watch-houses are now placed at convenient distances all over the Metropolis; where a parochial constable attends, in rotation, every night, to receive disorderly and criminal persons, and to carry them before a Magistrate next morning.—In each watch-house also (in case of fire) the names of the turn-cocks, and the places where engines are kept, are to be found. This circumstance is mentioned for the information of strangers unacquainted with the Police of the Metropolis; to whom it is recommended, in case of fire, or any accident or disturbance requiring the assistance of the Civil Power, to apply immediately to the Officer of the night, at the nearest watch-house, or to the watchmen on the beat.
[120] Beadles are, in many instances, employed at present as local superintendants of the watch, within their respective Parishes.
[121] The Select Committee of the House of Commons, in their 28th Report, 1798, on Finance, have strongly recommended a Concurrent Jurisdiction; and also, that two Police Offices should be established in London, upon the plan of the others, with Magistrates to be appointed by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen.
[122] It is true, that by the Acts of 25th Geo. II. cap. 36, and 18th Geo. III. cap. 13, the expences of the prosecutors and witnesses are to be paid; and also (if the parties shall appear to be in poor circumstances) a reasonable allowance made for trouble and loss of time; but this is connected with the regulations of the Justices, confirmed by one of the Judges of Assize, which vary according to local circumstances, and it is also necessary to plead poverty in order to be remunerated for loss of time: but as the poor seldom suffer by thieves, these Acts appear to have had little effect in encouraging prosecutors to come forward; and it is believed few applications are made excepting in cases of real poverty.—In the County of Middlesex there is an exception; where witnesses are directed to be paid by the Overseers of the Poor of the Parish, where the person was apprehended; but this mode of payment is seldom if ever adopted.—The fund, however, which the Legislature has thus provided, if œconomically and judiciously applied by a Public Prosecutor, would remove many difficulties, without any material addition to the county rates.
[123] The propriety of this suggestion is sanctioned by the recommendation of the Finance Committee of the House of Commons in their 27th and 28th Report; and forms part of that System of general controul and arrangement for the prevention of crimes, stated more at large in a [subsequent Chapter].
[124] Considerable inconvenience arises (and, indeed, great hardship, where prisoners are innocent) from the length of time which must elapse, where offences have been committed in Southwark, before they can be brought to trial; either for inferior or more atrocious crimes. In the former case, prisoners must remain till the Quarter Sessions, (there being no intermediate General Sessions of the Peace) and in the latter case till the Assizes, held only twice a year; this occasions a confinement, previous to trial, lengthened out, in some instances, to three, four, five, and even nearly to six months.