THE POLICE AND THEIR RISKS.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 776, 14 February 1871, Page 3

THE POLICE AND THEIR RISKS.

The following facts recently published show that in regard to the London police the cost to the public is con•siderable for compensation for injuries received by policemen in the discharge of their duties. " At the present time, 188 men permanently disabled by having been stabbed, assaulted, jumped upon, or otherwise injured by prisoners are in receipt of pensions amounting to £5664 yearly; the widows and children of 15 men, who died in conseqoence of wounds or injuries received by them from prisoners, receive pensions amounting to £212 yearly; 79 men, permanently disabled l>y injuries accidentally received in the execution of their duty, receive pensions amounting to £2485 yearly ; and the widows and children of four men, who died in consequence of like injuries, receive £BO yearly. These figures give a total of 286 men permanently disabled by wounds or injuries received while in the execution of their duty, to whose widows and children pensions are paid amounting to £8443 per annum." Of the men thus wounded and disabled, we are

told that 80 received their injuries while apprehending criminals. " Fortytwo were knocked down, kicked, and otherwise maltreated. Eighteen were permanently injured by drunken persons, nine by riotous or disorderly roughs, seven by burglars, six by Irish mobs, five by miscellaneous mobs, five by drunken soldiers and militia men. Six were stabbed by prisoners, one of them a convicted thief. Three were severely injured by falling while in the pursuit of thieves—one from a roof, another from a wall, another by being tripped up to enable a thief to escape. One constable was shot by a highwayman, and another by a criminal he had brought to justice. One had his leg broken when apprehending a prisoner ; another had his wrist dislocated, and a third his knee-cap. Several were jumped upon by ruffians, kicked by prostitutes, knocked down by runaway horses which they were trying to stop, ridden over by cabs and vans, and injured at fires by falling from ladders."