The Police of London.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 143, 6 August 1872, Page 7

The Police of London.

(Dark Blue Magazine.) Xn London, the police force forms a very espectable army in numbers, is organised on military basis, with a complete hierarchy of and of late has received a cavalry •ontingent, which will soon no doubt be the lory of its military directors. The city has J ee n mapped out into new divisions for police purposes, and each street, or series of streets, j s placed under the especial guardianship of »n individual officer. Telegraph wires, ruhuintf underground, connect the various districts with headquarters ; and with the military discipline inflexibly maintained, render the force as effective for great or little services 3 crainst the enemies of society as any human arrangement yet invented has proved to be. The 9000 men of the force are divided into twenty divisions, nineteen of which are known by letters of the alphabet, each numbering on an average from 450 to 500 men. The K or Stepney division is the strongest, having close upon 700 rank and file ; and, with the exception of the Thames, an unlettered body, the g or Whitechapel division is the smallest, numbering less than 300. The “ Fancy A,” as it is called in the force, is the favoured division, being set apart to guard the palaces and the Houses of Parliament, and generally to assist in State pageants. Each division is complete in itself, and looks after all the beats within its own bounds. In times of disturbances, it receives or gives assistance, but in ordinary times it would be considered a monstrous offence for an M to trench on the ground of an N, or a C to walk on a D’s side of the way.

The pay of all ranks has been increased, at least nominally. The men have an additional Is 6d sterling a week, but for that they are obliged to be satisfied with one day’s leave in a fortnight, instead of one in a week. The beats are co-extensive wdth all the streets, lanes, and alleys of London, and the highways and byways of the country round about. Each man is furnished with a beat card, on which the streets confided to his care are particularly marked down. He is obliged to begin at a particular end, and visit all the parts in prescribed order, so that the sergeant may know where to drop on him at a given moment. He is bound to examine the fastenings of every shop, factory, and other place of business, and see that all private houses are duly secured, and all basement windows closed ; and he must report any instance of negligence he may find. This is an arduous duty, for which he gets little thanks. If a crowd gather on the pavement, it is his business to go straight into the centre, and send to the right and left the disputants. In case of resistance, he must take somebody into custody. He is particularly instructed never to walk round about a crowd, or appear to hesitate before taking action. Decision and self-assertion are impressed on him as sacred duties.

The detectives form a class apart in the police. In addition to the arrangement of beats and fixed points, each division sends forth a certain number of plain-clothed men, whose duty it is to supplement as detectives the efforts of the cor stables in uniform. They go out dressed up as sailors or labourers, or others ; and were it not for the cleanliness of their faces and the severe cut of their hair, to say nothing of their methodical tread, they would pass very well. As it is, any thief worth his salt is able to distinguish one of them at a glance ; but at a little distance even thieves’ sharpness may be deceived. To be a detective is, in the eye of the ordinary policeman, not only to be classed as a sharp and responsible man, but to be a lucky and money-making man. They are divided into two branches, —the divisional detectives, and those of Scotland Yard. The latter are, in a treasure, the staff of the force, and form in sort a connecting link between headquarters and the various divisions. If a great murder be committed, the inspector of the locality details a couple of the plain-clothes men to make inquiries. The men chosen have generally some knowledge of the place and the people about, and they learn what they can relative to the matter. A report is sent up to Scotland Yard, and if the case be important it is put into the hands of one of the crack detectives there. He goes down to ihe locality, and puts himself into communication with the divisional detectives, who have been talking to apple-women, examines pot-boys, and sounding cabmen, with commendable industry. He requires them t» yield up all their knowledge, so laboriously acquired ; and they do so, with the best of grace they can, inwardly cursing him and the commissioner who sent him. For, although they have the pains of making all the enquiries, and have stood the expense attending jhe getting of a clue which may ultimately lead to the desired capture, they will now have none of the glory of success, and only a small portion of any reward which may be offered. Sometimes the divisional detectives, "ho do the work, get only £lO out of tire regard of £2OO which is generally offered on the occasion of a great crime. A swell detechve, if he gets his name into the papers, and he generally does, will get tire lion’s share, tot only of public applause, but of any substantial reward the case may bring.