Star.
London, England, 1830-05-01 00:00:00

THE CITY NIGHTLY WATCH and POLICE.

The following are extracts flonithe Committee of the Common
Ceuncil on this subject; it is still under consideration, but it will
br seen that Mr. Peel's Plan is the foundation of the recommenda-
tier. in r--my particulars :
Tue Comm htte appointed in relation to the Nightly Watch and
Pc lire of the City of London having, in consequence of their unani.
mows rt zilution " That in their opinion the system of police within
this city, -as well by day as by night, was imperfect, and required re-
vision,' referred it to a Sub.Cornmittee to consider and prepare a
Flan for the improvement of the watch and police, and laid the same
before the Committee, who were pleased to refer it again to the Sub--
Committee, to pre e a more detailed plan for carrying into effect
the object pro , and cause the same to be printed, and a copy
eser
to be sent to t e r several members.
The Sub-Committee have accordingly proceeded in the considera-
tion of a more detailed plan: and having bad before them the re-
miss from the several wards of the number of constables annually
elected at the respective wardmotes, and the duties performed by
them. they find that a great majority of the constables so annually
elected do not execute their office in person, but serve by substitutes,
r.i.d frequently send their porters and servants to do their duty
during the Sessions, and at executions, to which, by the nightly at.
teed, by rotation, at the watchhouse of their respective wards,
the duties of such constables appear to be, of late years, almost en.
tirely confined ; and that no attention is now paid by the constables
t: the removal of nuisances and obstructions in the public streets at
tees, or other cases of emergency, or upon public ceremonials. They
olio find that these duties frequently are not performed by the sub-
tthates themselves, but that these Latta are in the habit of hiring the
right watchmen and others to attend for them. • •
Upon a review of the whole subject, the Sub-Committee are of
opinion, that it is important that some measures should be adopted,
without delay, for consolidating the whole police establishment of
theoity, so as to render the same at all times available for the
ge:*. al protection and security of its inhabitants ; and for abolish.
ing, as far as it can be legally and properly done, the present system
of electing and appointing Ward-constables ; and, after the most
mature consideration that the SubsCommittse have been et-tabled to
give the subject, they are of opinion that the present system of the
day and night police, and the nightly watch, should be so consoli.
dated that one uniform and efficient force should be at till times on
duty, as well by day as by night, for the security of person and pro-
perty, the prevention of crime, and the preservation of public Iran.
quillity ; they have accordingly prepared a plan, which they con-
ceive will be best calculated to accomplish so desirable an object,
and which they submit to the consideration of the Committee as
follows:

That the police establishment of the city. u connected with the
regular day and night duty, be placed under a system of manage.
ment ; and that such system of management be under the discretion
and control of a Committee or Commission, consisting of the Lord
Mayor and all the Aldermen for the time being, and one Commoner
from each ward, to be annually elected by the Court of Common
Council.

That an office be provided by the Corporation at the Guildhall, '
for the purposes of the police establishment, where attendance
should be given daily, from nine in the morning till five in the af.
ternoon, and at such other times as may be found requisite for the
public service.
That the city be divided into six districts, &c. at each of which
a night-station shall be established, where, and where only, night
charges shall be received.
That one chief officer be appointed by the Committee or Corn.
mission during pleasure, &c.
That, for the performance of the day and night duty, contem.
plated by this arrangement, a number of constables be appointed,
amounting to 480, (one out of every ten to be a conductor,) who
should all be resident within the city, and their residences so desig.
nated that immediate recourse can be had to them whenever their
services may be required.
Thar, in addition to the 480 constables, there be appointed 12 in-
spectors and three superintendents.
That an inspector be placed over every four conductors and 36
men, for whose conduct, discipline, and order, he shall be held re.
sponsihle, as well as for the safety of the sections to which the con-
ductors and the men placed in his charge may he appointed, to ar-
range and superintend the sections and beats to which the conduc-
tors and men may be placed—to receive and examine the reports
from the conductors of the conduct of the men and to prepare and
deliver daily a report of his district to the superintendent ; for which
purpose he should occasionally, during the time he is on duty, per.
ambulate his district, and see that the officers and men under him
are correctly performing their respective duties, &c.
That one of the two inspectors, who will be on duty together on
each district, do take the general charge of the duty throughout that
district—see as much of it as possible—visit the men—receive the
reports of the several conductors—and hear from them frequently
the mite of all parts of the district, &e.
That the inspectors ,be empowered, in cases of persons charged
with petty misdemeanours, who may be brought by any constable
e: officer to any watch or station house within their respective dis-
tricts during the nighttime, if they shall deem it prudent, to take
bail by recognizance, without fee or reward, from such persons, con-
ditioned for their appearance before the Lord Mayor or Sitting Ma.
gistrate, &e.
That a superintendent be appointed to every two districts, and
held responsible for the general good conduct and good order of all
the officers and men appointed to those districts ; to issue his orders
and directions Scc.
That 100 of the constables be employed in the performance of the
Jay-duty.
That the night duty be performed by two divisions of 240 each,
the first division to be put on duty when the day constables are going
of; and to remain until they shall be relieved by the second divi.
lion, who shall continue on duty until the division appointed for
the day duty shall relieve them.
That the first division for the night duty do consist of 240 out
of tile 360 who have not been employed in the previous day duty,
die_
That a small number from each inspector's division, making
about 85 in the whole (if so many many be necessary), nder the
charge of a superintendent and three inspectors, do attend in rotation
to perform the duty at Common Halls and public ceremonials, and
also at executions, which duty is now performed by the ward con-
stables when summoned by precept from the Marshals of the
city for that purpose.. And that a sufficient number, under the charge
of a conductor or conductors, do also attend at the Old Bailey
during the Sessions, for the purpose: •
of keeping good order in the
avenues to the courts. • •
The salary of the chief officer, and the expense of providing and
establishing the principal office and station for the purposes of the
proposed police, and t. 4 clerks and other incidental charges, be de-
frayed by the Corporation out of the City's cash.
That the pay or wages to be allowed to the several officers and
constables be as follow

3 Superintendents 1501. per annum, each.
Inspectors 1101. per annum, each.
48 Conductors 255. per week, each.
432 Constables 225. per week, each.
That the before-mentioned pay or wages to the conductors and
constables be subject to a deduction of such sum as may be deemed
espedlent for the formation of a superannuation fund, uniform cloth.
ing, and for such other advantages as they may derive under the
proposed establishment.
hat the beadles of the several wards should be appointed, under
the directions of the Aldermen, Deputies, and Common Council, to
collect the moneys required for the purposes of the proposed police ;
and as the beadles will be, by this plan, relieved from a considera-
ble portion of their present labours, they may be appointed to per.
form other duties In the ward, which may relieve the inhabitants
from some of those duties they are now called upon to perform, and
which are considered burdensoa,e.
The expenses, according to the foregoing arrangements, and in.
• eluding the sum of 1,0001. per annum for the watch-houses which
it will be necessary to retain for stations, are calculated to amount
to the sum of 30,5101.85. • which it is proposed should be raised
by the several wards in such proportions, and in such manner, as
may be re 4 upon by the Court of Common Council ; the same
to be paid into the Chamber of the City, and to be drawn out and
disbursed wader the control and direction of the Committee or Com-
mission.
The actual expenses of the several wards of the city under the
resent system of the nightly catch; according to the returns which
have been made, amount to the sum of 38,298 L 17s. Id. ' • besides
which a considerable sum of money is annually collected from the
Inhabitants of some of the wards, by voluntary subscriptions, for
street-keepers, Ice.
It appears, from the foregoing statement, that, under the pre-
sent system the expense of the nightly match alone amounts to the
sum of
Whilst, by the plan now submitted, embracing the
duty both by day.and night, -tdie expense (ex-
clusive of the principal office, which it is con-
templated should .be .borne )iy the city) will •
amount to the sum of

So that an actual saving of
ail be effected, and the inhabitants of this city consequently re.
wed to that mien; independitnt of the advantages which would
melt to them from the *di: of the proposed system.
As the marshalmen wou relieved from a very large portion
of their present duties by arrangements, they would conse-
quently be placed at the disposition of the megistrates, for the ex-
txotion rf the various processes and drdera issuing from the justice
rooms at the MAssion-lietrie and the Guildhall. And It is mien.
aseaded that oeuvres taken to render these Alms as beneficial
ascolir toticeztl •listerests of this city.
aldiaitting the feresits. pica to the can.
aeration of the Committee, beg leave to state thst, although, in