Star.
London, England, 1816-10-31 00:00:00

POLICE OFTHE METROPOLIS.

of them.

MINUTES Of EVIDENCE 'I'AKEN BEFORE THE COM-
MITTIIE .OF ThE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
JOHN GIVFORD, Esq. Magirtrats
to'. Worshila sired.
Examination maim* •
Do you know whether it is the general practice in
'the country for the public-houses to belong to the
brewers in the nrighbotirbood ?-I)retty generally so.
You say that you. "link a prospective enactment
fis prevent the bosses that should hereafter become
the property of brewers and distillers from being li-
censed, would have a beneficial effect; but do, you
not think at the same time it would be An act of in•
justice towards the brewers, who ire called upon toy
advance money to persons taking the public-houses,i
the only security they could receive for which was 1
the Lew of that house ?--I do not think so, because
Isthidk it would jprevent person( who -have not sulfi-
gia(PiaPettl; from • tieriptittO% shiobasinees of 'a
puldicao, and from taking publivisondeS. and' that
therefore it would sedate * better, description of
landlords.
Do you think that a9y material objection could be
urged, beyOnd the objection of 'affecting the property
at present vested, to the change of the existing sys-
.tern, by giving to every individual a right, as matter
of course, to apply for a license to vet up snchApirit-
:shop or ale house, subjecting them however to control
•by 4 legal enactment, so that, in the case 6f miscon-
duct punishment might immediately follow ?--I think
that the increase of public-houses and of spirit-shops,
:which would be produced by such a permission,
wOold be a very great evil.
Do you think that such increase would take place;
for why should there be more ale-houses and spirit-
shops established. than butchers or bakers, or any
other trade that is necessary to the public ?—Because
-I think that the temptation to toilsome spirits, by
persons who have contracted the. habit. is much
greater than the temptation to cunsu.ae meat, or any
other necessary article of lire; for in proportion as
the stomach is aceustomed to use ardent spirits, it
becomes debilitated. and . can with difficolty digest.
and is averse to the reception of carnation boil.
Do you sun think it also would be * weans of
ipsfening the respectable put of the victuallers. aud
increasing tiotf of the lower descripiicii?—l 'Willa
think it it otiaceitainly increase those Of a lower de.,
*Option.
, Do yott.thiokahat any alteration ip Op prudee. i
the entire independence thiat e,s;stsatthcpresent mn-
meta between the Police Magistrate and-the tonstil
ble of the Parish, would bb an advantge to dui
Police 1-1 think that 'if She Psuidi Coastables ware'
placed more immediately finder .the inmasonl of the
PA•Vice .14pgismates. that
.if the T,colice 10.0,tgistrites
Vr ge .ceopowgregl to direct the cliurchtiiirdens or
:Officers "lip reward theta out of die' parochial Furat;
Are-extra *relies and loss of dint, Very time&
044 consequent*e to rim public would Imam ft
think also. if blogistrotog 110 Ale peer of (*Ott
sing,. if not of punishing
.watchinen. litr pkign*ql/4
and ,had a peg tine at
,leau on the aypeintmihti of
watchmen, that would be beneficial also tonic public..
1 see constant robberies committed under the um?
eye of the watchmen ; 1 have 4.nowel. *tow Aft
stances of tilievetimisiift ,with .4zolegPf9PerAlbr
ea'
stations of ,watcluPen, and r.onsecint°4l7 'lli' - :
ought to be in View of tbeni. and of houtes bebiti"
bed very pear those stations, that I am convinced
they mutt have connived at she-escape of such thieves
and.theconsinistkissauf such ***ark*
,Do Pt* RSA** .04 pptipetblic incooyettiegi*
is eArtperiim *
igi..ol*Eqtatof watchmen to esti* to '
theapprohenisoa of offenders beiedie ii happens not
ti he Immediately within the disulat -he iscordesed .14;
'tiny tapir such is -she .case corteinly.; /but 1 am nut
,am fief ill iherctia be.4,411111).L.141.0..Wmg10rk,
.0
isittpwad to :quit his distriqc,dlF.N .p 1 Stop Mid 1
*ad to **via:the pursuit. . . .
You* SiLiou Litvprana *Alija; ad Amnia.
You haveVittedin ISSN .4101.M800r diatOw UP
vvoho instchauen AO* she vwtogo of .ir irvq?v
baltAlmcfoi: PP; gigiott.tirm 'lraq -"! I es-
N you not think that this conduct of the watch.

I
PRICE SF. VFW PEPieeii.l

men. iii ying a tax uponthose sink: ..• • s..nsi,
and' of cootie t?leratincend winking at their tiotoui
and disorderlf conduct in the streets,, is 2 great pod=
Tic nuisantle?-41ndOubt of.it. 1 think many pros,
titdtes trision• the town are servant girls, oho have
begin driven there through thi caprice of their masters
or. mistresses, who frequent'? discharger shem, and
refuse to to give them. frny character.. I have bad
many complaysts furvfemale tswvants personally ta
me upon t may my, two or three
hUnflred, . . .
Arre many grebe lower servants in the Metropolit
to be consideied as belonging to that class
not while they are servants; bet I am afraid thee
are many servants driven In that course of life by the'
reason 1 have state.'; and the hiagisuAres have
ented that they have not had it in their power, to •
coop! matters wad mistresses to give a reason gib!
they &rallies their setv4uts.

...

Do Toll think, from your knowledge, that there
hal bees a very great increase of the women of the
town in the streets of late years have not made
that observation ; I have always seen the streets full

Do you think that their conduct has been more
djorderly and riotous in the streets than formerly
rthink it has ; that they have certainly got to
depraved.

Do you not attribute that to the connection and
interest that subsists between theni and those whosp
Juty it is to keep the streets orderly ?—I think, in

some meirsttre, it may. . •
Do you think that the persois themselves are mows
depraved, and given to drinking, than formerly t—f
think pretty much the same ha that way, except in
their general habits and conduct; there is more hos.-
, rid language made use of; and I think they. are mule
hardened, and have got to a. greater pitch. i
From your observation, do you think that the trig*
of stealing privately, from the person, better knows •
by the mune of picking. pockets, has increased hil-
-1 terly ? —No doubt of it; it has a great deal incr*ased,
there are so many young thieves now; some Of thew
are quite children, and can scat cely crawl.
To what cause should you attribute this increase
of the number of pickpockets I-4 am heftily cots.
petent to answer that question.
Should you think that the taking away the capita]
part of the punishment has had any eff:ct that way ?
—No, I do not ;. I think .eyen. before they become
dexterous pickpockets, the gallows is net enough to
deter, them from it.
Do you not think that the taking away the capital
part of the punishment has had this effect ; that it
would induce mote per.ons t.; prosecute, where death
would not be the censequence of conviction, thin if
i pas so?-1 (*avow) doubt of it; I have heard ob•
jections made to prosecutions fu that reason, and
they do not irisfr to hang Abe- person.
po you think that eitactic,e which is stated to be
prevalent, of offering rewards for the recovery of pro.
petty, and not by prosecuting the person who stole
it, must haves considerable effect in increasing the
nomber of criminals of that debcriptiou ?—Yes ; and
I think it. has an injurious tendency.
Is it not a practice at this MoMent prevalent ?—I
rather think it is.
So that an individual who his lost his watch, for
instance, will advertise a reward for the watch, and
which when he recovers, he pursues the business
no further ?-e'lltat it frequently the case, I have no
. •
doubt.
the result' of that. of course, is the encouragement
of the delinquent ? Nu do.ibt.
Do you think that it the Collectors of the Tolls at
the differvat gates in the environs of Me to.vn were
obliged by law to register the numbest* coos,,
and the names and numbers of carte, that passed
through their gates after dusk, and to watch such al
came through at very unseas mable times with a
suspicious appearance, would be tile means of faeiliie
wasig the eanis of justice!—l .think it would, bet
I do not know whether you could Kitts them. 4tat
power.
Do you think that the offences which are corn.
misted are of •considerable less atrocity of character
than formerly ?-:-Ires, I think they are. 1
gas you give any 'tavola for that ?—!No, I cannot;
there are not so mail highway robberies, or footpad
robberies as there used to be, nor is there so much
cruelty as these used to be.
It has been stated to the'Committee, that it would
considerably siugmeitt the value of what as generiny
termed a Tyburn Ticket, if annexed to at wee ate
exemption Sum military and naval service, super.
I added to the patochial service which belongs to it
:now ?—lt certainly would incFette the value of .its -
Do you think it would make the possession of it
meth more valuable in ..the eyes of the person who'
[ was to receive it ?.-I should think it would ; it woad&
:depend a great deal upon the person whose hands it
`got into.
Do you think that if it was generally known that
the posssuien of a Tyburn Ticket did protect per.
ens from those tars services, it would operate as a
tearer hillutement upon the apprehension of Wham
!t
1-.INn, i do not think it would; it would OD
. to any thing of that sort.
Do you not think it might induce people to assist
in the apprehension of offenders ?—lt might induce
them to assist its the apprehension of offenders, but
it would be plating them in the situation that has alt
string been complained of.
Whitt it tile value of a Tyburn Ticket of Saint
George, Henover.square ?—From twenty to matinee
Sue guineas. •
Do you think the value is as much as that. wipe,
,ytte consider ell the parochial offices are filled by
persons of a better description in that parish 3 .1.
slioilid thirit it worth twenty guineas certainly. ,
What do you think•would. be the value of it if it.
Min persons Intro taxiing in the any sad
siiiyir. 421 hardly know; some patrons will vie ilit
Se,..er 40 geineaefor a substkadef andot.eulatie Oise
it would be et cenaLlerable value. • ..s.,