The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1839-11-12 00:00:00

INTRODUCTION OF A RURAL POLICE INTO

LANCASHIRE.

ADJOURNED ANNUAL SESSIONS AT PRESTON.
The magistrates of the county held an adjourned annual
session at the Court-house, in Preston, on Wednesday last,
principally to take into consideration the expediency of
adopting the provisions of the act 2 and 3 Victoria, c. 94,
relating to the establishment of a county and district consta-
bulary force. The subject being one of great importance, it
was very satisfactory tq perceive, from the full attendance of
the magistracy, that the question had gained that large share
of interest to which, in every point of view, it is so deservedly
entitled. The Rev. J. Brooks, rector of Liverpool, was
called to the chair, and the following are the names of the
magistrates present :—T. B. Addison, Esq., W. Gale, Esq.,
R. Walker, Esq., M.P., A. Wood, Esq., E. Hibbert, Esq.,
R. Hargreaves, Esq., J. Feilden, Esq., J. Taylor, Esq., J.
Cross, Esq., L. G. N. Starkie, Esq., J. Cunliffe, Esq., E.
Grundy, Esq., R. E. Allison, Esq., W. Calrow, Esq., J.
Heyes, Esq., R. Thicknesse, Esq., Col. Austen, J. Master,
Esq , T. Thornley, Esq., M.P., J. Fletcher, Esq., W. H.
Wood, Esq., W. Birley, Esq., Col. Rawsthorne, T. Greene,
Esq. M.P.,E. G. Hornby, Esq., A. Hodgson, Esq., R.
Derbyshire,
yshire, Esq., J. Bushell, Esq., H. Hargreaves, Esq.,
R. Edwards, Esq., C. Bourne, Esq., .1. Fort, Esq., M.P.,
T. W. Rathbone, Esq., C. Horsfall, Esq., T. B. Barclay,
Esq., J. F. Foster, Esq., G. W. Wood, Esq., M.P. R. J.
J. Norreys, Esq., P. E. Townley, Esq., E. J. Lloyd, Esq.,
L. Whalley, Esq., G. Thorn, Esq., T. It. W. ffrance, Esq.,
J. Armstrong, Esq., E. Dawson, Esq., J. Taylor, Esq., W.
J. Anderton, Esq., T. B. Crosse, Esq., J. N. ffarington,
Esq., C. Chisenhale, Esq., T. J. Knowlys, Esq., S. Hor-
rocks, jun., Esq., J. H. Kearsley, Esq., R. H. Wlch, Esq.,
W. Marshall, Esq., Rev. W. Thursby, Rev. G. Baldwin,
and Rev. J. T. Horton.
REPORT ON MR. HARPER'S CASE.
The Chairman said the first business of the court was to
consider the report of a committee, on a petition which had
Leen presented by a person named Harper, late a conveyor
of convicts for the county, praying the remission of a penalty
which had been inflicted on him for the escape of a prisoner
who had been intrusted to him. The report recommended
that the prayer of the petitioner should not be acceded to.
Mr. Gale moved that the report be received and adopted.
Mr. E. Dawson seconded the motion, which, after a short
discussion, was put and carried nem. con.
PASSING OF SCOTCH AND IRISH POOR FROM LIVERPOOL.
The Chairman read a report from a committee appointed
to inquire into this subject, the substance of which was, that
the arrangements heretofore existing and acted upon, as re-
lating to payments made to the pass officer at Liverpool,
were in strict accordance with the act of parliament.
Mr. Greene, M.P., suggested that the report of the com-
mittee should be printed in the report of the day's proceed-
ings, as it would give magistrates an opportunity of making
enquiries into the subject. The printing of the report would
enable magistrates to set themselves right on the merits of
the subject, and he therefore moved that the report be printed.
Mr. E. G. Hornby seconded the motion, which, after a
few observations from the Chairman, was agreed to.
COUNTY AND DISTRICT CONSTABLES.
The Chairman next said that the court would then proceed
to consider the provisions of the Act 2 and 3 Victoria, c. 33,
relating to the establishment of a county and district con-
stabulary force. He understood that the Clerk of the Peace
had received the several reports, and, if it was the pleasure
of the court, he would request that officer to read them.
Mr. Gale asked leave to make an observation or two be-
fore the reports from the magistrates assembled at the differ-
ent quarter sessions were read. He was induced to adopt
such course from the circumstance, that he and his brother
magistrates in the division of Lonsdale North of the Sands
were not mask acquainted, with the fact, that the considera-
tion of the subject respesting a constabularly force would he
brought under discussion at the October Quarter Sessions
held at Lancaster, and therefore they had not attended and
given their opinion upon the question. They had, however,
deliberated upon it at a petty session, and he was allowed to
say that they were unanimously agreed in the principle of its
being expedient to increase the police force throughout the
county. He would desire, then, that when the Clerk of the
Peace should have read the reports agreed to at the different
quarter session, he should also read the report agreed to in
petty session by all the magistrates acting in the division of
the Lonsdale Hundred North of the Sands.
The court having signified an assent to the request,
Mr. Gorst proceeded first to read the report agreed to by the
magistrates assembled at the Michaelmas Quarter Sessions
heldat Lancaster, from which it appeared that the population
of Lonsdale North of the Sands (by the census of 1831,) was
34,311, and that of Lonsdale south was 32,415 ; from which
latter, however the population of the borough of Lancaster
12,613, would have to be deducted, that place having its
own police force already established agreeable to the provi-
sions of the municipal reform bill. There were in the Lons-
dale hundred north 34 townships, and in the south division
45 townships, exclusive of Lancaster; and the whole popu-
lation (that of Lancaster not included) was 44,113. The
magistrates were unanimously in favour of the provisions of
the act, and considered that a force of about 44 constables
should be established. (The maximum number which the
act allows to be appointed is one for each thousand popu-
lation.)
The Chairman said that as the magistrates on Mr. Gale's
division of the Lonsdale Hundred had agreed to a report in
petty sessions, he thought the proper time had arrived for
such report being read.
Mr. Gorst then read such report, which was agreed to at a
meeting of eleven magistrates, and they were unanimous in
their opinion of the insufficiency of the present constabulary
force.
Mr. Gorst next read the Preston report, agreed to by 28
magistrates present, in which the'adoption of the act in the
hundreds of Amounderness, Blackburn, and Leyland was
strongly recommended.
The report agreed to at the Salford Sessions, at which 48
magistrates were present, was next read, and in this it was
recommended to appoint district constables throughout the
county.
Mr. Foster begged to offer a few words of explanation, in
order to show the court the data on which the magistrates of
Salford had felt justified in recommending the adoption
throughout the county of the constabulary force bill. There
was a population of 273,900 persons within the hundred, ex-
clusive of the boroughs of Manchester and Bolton, and the
townships having a population of more than 10,000, and such
as are governed by local acts. With respect to the number
of constables to be appointed, the magistrates did not consi-
der it expedient to adopt the maximum one—viz., one in a
thousand population ; but on the contrary would prefer, at
the commencement of the experiment, that one in two-
thousand population should be first tried, being quite satis-
fied that if the operations of the act should prove beneficial,
and it was discovered that the force appointed was not suffi-
ciently effective, the magistrates would have no hesitation in
making such a further increase as to ensure its full efficiency.
On the question of salaries to be paid to the force, the ma-
gistrates had thought that the wages of the constables might
be allowed to be 18s. to 20s. per week, and those of the
superintendents, the grade next above the constables, from
20s. to 225. per week.
Mr. Gorst next read the report agreed to at the Kirkdale
Quarter Sessions, at which 25 magistrates were present, the
tenor of which report was quite in favour of the adoption of
the act of parliament.
Mr. Greene rose and said the court had heard the opinions
of the magistrates assembled in the different parts of the
county, all of which were decidedly in favour of the adoption
of the provisions of the act. It therefore appeared to him,
that the business which the present meeting had next to de-
termine, was that of evincing whether those recommendations
should be acted upon, and in order to ascertain that, he
would move that the provisions of the 2d and 3d Victoria,
c. 93, relating to the appointment of a constabulary force,
should be adopted throughout the county of Lancaster.
Col. Rawstrone said lie quite agreed in the expediency of
allowing the pleasure a trial, for he had no doubt that it
would be found to work in the most satisfactory manner, in
affording additional security to persons and property, and he
therefore cordially seconded the motion.
The Chairman then put the motion, and the same was
agreed' to without furtner observation.
The Chairman then said, that before proceeding with the
question of the number of officers to be appointed, it might
be as well first to come to an agreement as to whether there
should be one or two chief superintendents.
Mr. Gale moved that there be one general superintendent.
Mr. Walker seconded the motion.
The Rev. J. T. Horton thought that the manner in which
the motion had been proposed and seconded was much too
brief; gentlemen submitting and seconding propositions
ought, at least, to give some explanation of their motives.
Mr. Gale said he was more desirous to promote business
t hgn ambitious to make speeches.
Mr. Crosse said that as the extent of the county was very
considerable, and its interests in the two divisions quite dis-
similar, he would move that there be two chief superintend-
ents appointed.
Mr. Thicknesse concurred in the views of Mr. Crosse, and
would second his motion.
Rev. J. T. Horton would support Mr. Gale's motion for
one chief superintendent.
The Chairman thought if two appointments were made,
the magistrates should appostion the expenses equitably on
the two divisions.
Mr. Greene thought that although it might be possible to
succeed in having the appointment of two chief constables
confirmed, he apprehended it would be found altogether im-
practicable to divide the county assessment.
Mr. Addison and Mr. Foster thought it the most judicious
course to have one or two individuals appointed with powers
nearly equal to those possessed by the chief constable.
The Chairman put the amendment that two chief con-
stables be appointed for which a few hands only were held
up ; he then put the original motion for the appointment o
one, and it was carried by a large majority.
NUMBER OF CONSTABLES.

Mr. Gale next moved that the number of constables to be
appointed should be after the scale of one for each two thou-
sand of the population. The whole population from the
census of 1831, (exclusive of those places for which the pro-
visions of the act were not yet required) appeared to be in the
Northern Division 264,320, and in the Southern 353,000 to-
gether 617,320, which divided by the plan proposed in his
motion, would require a force of 310 or 312 constables ; he
should therefore move, that 310 constables be the number
recommended.
Mr. Fort would move that 400 be the number.
Mr. Greene thought there was not sufficient data, as to
the amount of population, to justify the court in determining
on the number of constables which would be required; and
he judged that it would be highly expedient that a short de-
lay would be allowed before the decision was come to. The
court had given consent to the adoption of the act, but he
thought the scale, as to the numerical strength of the force,
should not be fixed until the magistrates had been put in pos-
session of the information which they required to enable
them to come to a proper decision.
Mr. Norreys seconded Mr. Gale's motion.
Mr. Foster said he approved rather of one constable for
each 2000 of the population being appointed, than one for
1000.

Mr. Gale said he had, at an earlier stage of the proceed-
ings, been requested by Mr. Horton to state some of the
reasons on which he founded his motion. He would beg to
say, then, that he was guided by the following data. The
poor-law union, which included the whole district of Lons-
dale North of the Sands, was superintended, in its relief de-
partment, by six officers, the population being about 13,000.
And as those six officers found themselves fully competent
to attend to the whole district, the magistrates considered
themselves quite justified in recommending that the appoint-
ment of constables should not be on a more numerous scale
than that of one for 2000 population.
Rev. J. T. Horton could not agree with the scale proposed
by Mr. Gale, for he thought that the population of Lonsdale
North, consisting, as it did, of 13,000 persons, were entitled
to have 13 constables, to protect themselves and their pro-
perty, rather than 61, as the motion intended for them. He
thought it was an erroneous idea to snpose that a population
scattered like the one in Lonsdale, did not require any vigilant
system of protection, for he believed that the reverse was the
fact. He concluded by moving that the maximum provision
of the act should be adopted—that of having one constable
for each 1000 of the population.
Mr. J. H. Kearsley seconded the motion.
Mr. Addison reminded the court that the calculations on
the amount of population were made in the census of 1831,
since which period a very large increase had no doubt been
made ; in fact, he believed that the number proposed by Mr.
Gale would be little more than one in 3000. He should
therefore suggest that the number to be recommended should
be 500, which, in the present state of population, would not
much exceed one in 1500 ; but when the other towns fell in,
in two years from the adoption of the act, those 500 consta-
bles would very little exceed the scale of one in 2000. He
would therefore move that 500 constables be the number re-
commended.
Rev. W. Thursby would second this amendment.
Rey. J. T. Horton said he greatly desired to see unani-