The Sun.
London, England, 1853-07-21 00:00:00

THE POLICE MOVEMENT.

THE METROPOLITAN POLICE.—The defection, or ra-
ther dissatisfaction of the force, as expressed by the pri-
vates in the 11 and K divisions, at the system of promo-
tion and the rate of pay they receive, is rapidly extending
throughout the numerous divisions of the metropolis ;
the complaints of the men are deep, although not loud,
and rumours continue to gain credence that some hun-
dreds of the force will resign if their grievances are Let
listened to, and an alteration of the system adopted by
the commissioners, with an increase of pay. As it
ould be impossible to hold a general meeting of the
whole body, deputations from each division are spoken
of to unite and adopt measures to urge a consideration
and redress of their complaints ; but all urge that it
should be done in a temperate and respectful manner.
THE CITY POLICE.—APPIIEHENDED STRlKE.—Yester-
day sectional meetings were held in several of the divi-
sions of the City police, confined to the members of the
force comprising the second, third, and fourth-class men,
for the purpose of adopting measures to convene a general
meeting of the whole force, to consider the best means
and course to be pursued by them in bringing the griev-
ances under which they labour prominently before the
public ; and to memorialise Mr. Daniel Whittle Har-
vey, the chief commissioner, for an amelioration of their
present condition. The meetings, however, appear to
have been conducted privately, the general body keep-
ing aloof until such time as their proceedings, by una-
nimity, among themselves, are ripe for a general meeting.
There would, however, appear to be some differences
among them upon their several grievances ; but ox
one question—the system of promotion—the dissatis-
faction appears to be general throughout the several
divisions, six in number •, the ground of complaint—
that where civilians have been in the force for upwards
of 10 or 12 years, and gone through all the duties im-
posed upon them with satisfaction to their superior offi-
cers, the duties having of late years been of no ordinary
character on many occasions, particularly the Chartist
riots and other public occasions, they find men who have
been only a few months in the force are promoted over
their heads as serjeants, simply because they have
been in the army. The men, also, of the second,
third, and fourth class, consider they have a right to
complain of being deprived of their usual week's re-
laxation, while the inspectors have each enjoyed their
ten days' absence, the sergeants and first-class men,
having received a week's leave of absence, the re-
mainder of the force being denied similar relaxation.
Their being compelled to reside within the city is a
mere minor consideration, and applicable to a few, but
they all express themselves unanimous upon the inade-
quacy of their pay and the length of time they have to
servo before they arrive at even 20s. a week, the pay
of the second class, the greater portion of whom, by
that time, are married men, having to support a wife
and several children, some of them as many as five, be-
sides payment for their lodgings, no trifling deduction
from their pay. The fourth-class men enter at 175.,
serve six months, and if not reported they are raised.
to the third class at 18s., serve another six months
with the same result, and then are advanced to 19s. ;
and in 12 months after, go into the second class at 1/.,
and wait their chance of another 12 months to get
into the first class at 225., when they begin to look for
promotion as serjeants at 255., but in vain ; they find men
who have only recently been in the force made ser-
jeants without any apparent cause. The men say they
cannot continue to live upon such a system, and unless
an alteration takes place, and their pay and chances of
promotion are increased, they will have no other alter-
native but to retire from the force. The movement is
by do means confined to this class of men. The men
in the first class equally complain of the system of pro-
motion and pay, and commiserate the position of the
other-classes. The serjeants in several of the divisions
have memorialised the commissioner for an increase of
pay, but as yet have received no answer. The men are
anxiously looking for a general meeting, and are watch-
ing the proceedings of the metropolitan force.