The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-29 00:00:00

RURAL POLICE.

We find the following letter to the Early of Derby, Lord
Lieutenant of Lancashire, in the Lancaster Gazette of Satur-
day " Whitehall, 11th 'January, 1839.
My Loan—l wish to call the attention of your Lordship and
of the magistrates of the county of Lancaster to the state of
the constabulary force in that county.
" The number and efficiency of the regular constables in
many large towns, inspire no confidence, and upon the slightest
apprehension of tumult the magistrates are induced to swear in
special constables, and likewise to call in the aid of troops.
The former measure is often inefficacious, the special consta-
bles having no method or discipline, and being often either
unwilling to undertake their duties or timid in the perfor-
mance of them. The latter expedient is one which is objec-
tionable on many accounts ; it has the appearance of govern-
ing by military force; it harasses the troops, and often puts
the discretion and temper both of officers and men to the most
severe trials. I enclose some extracts from letters of the
Lieutenant-General commanding the northern district, in cor-
roboration of this opinion.
" The Acts of Parliament by which any additional civil
force can be procured, are the 3d and 4th William IV., cap.
90, entitled An Act to repeal an act of the eleventh year of
his late Msjesty King George the Fourth, for the lighting
and watching of parishes in England and Wales, and to make
other provisions in lieu thereof,' by which the rate payers
can tax themselves for the purpose of watching. The
act Ist and 2d William IV., cap. 41, (amended by the
sth and 6th William IV., cap. 431, entitled, An Act for
amending the laws relative to the appointment of special
constables, and for the better preservation of the peace,' by
virtue of which, on apprehension of felony, or breech of the
peace, special constables, may be sworn in, and paid out of
the county rate.
" For carrying into effect the provisions of this last men-
tioned Act the magistrates might obtain assistance from the
metropolitan police, or from the police of any corporate town
in the neighbourhood.
" But it appears to me that, both for the ordinary adminis-
tration of justice, and for the extraordinary occasions when the
peace of a district is threatened, it is most desirable to form
and maintain an efficient constabulary force, which may be
placed under the direction of the magistrates, and kept in a
constant state of discipline. Such a body might, according
to the wants of the county, be distributed over many districts,
or concentrated so as to meet a special emergency.
" Should such a body be formed in the county of Lancaster
for example, it appears to me that its formation and govern-
ment should be confided to the magistrates of the county, but
that it should undergo a regular yearly inspection, as the
yeomanry corps now do. But before I enter into any de-
tails, I should be glad to learn from your Lordship whether
the general proposition would meet with the concurrence of
the o-'agistrates.
" I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's obe-
dient servant, " J. RUSSELL."
" To the Earl of Derby, &G., &c."