The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-11-18 00:00:00

THE CONTEMPLATED RURAL POLICE

A circular, containing the following list of queries, has been
issued by the commissioners appointed to inquire into the for-
mation of a rural police, and transmitted from their office to
the magistracy of England and Wales. The return of the an-
swers must be sent under cover " For the Constabulary Force
Commissioners." Where any magistrates of the peity'sessions
may -be desirous of answering any questions individually, those
answers should be distinguished by the initials of the magistrate
making theta.
1. 'What is the extent and supposed population of the division
for which-you act ?-2. What number of acting magistrates re-
side generally within your division ?-3. State us nearly as you
can the number of felonies and, misdemeandurs committed dur-
ing the last' twelve months within your divisuat.--4. What pro-
portion of the offenders has been apprehended ?-5. Do the
constables apprehend offenders without being specially app:ied
to fur that purpose ?-er. Tu what Caine-3 do you ascribe the
failure to bring the off: nders to justice, and bow such failure
has been ascribable in any cases to the inefficiency of the con-
stables ?- 7. Are there any, and what, peculiar faCilities or in-
ducements to the commission of crime within your ?-
S. By what means, as you conceive, may they 'be removed ?-
9. le case of depredation, in your division, is escape with the
property easy, and is such property easily disposed of?---l(. Ia
there reason to believe that the depredations committed within
your division have been' conmitted by persons who do not re-
side in it; if se. what place or direction 'are they supposed to
collie from?-11. Arcs there within your division any lodgiug-
houses for tratupers, vagrants, or mendicants, of any peculiar
indUceinents to vagrancy or mendicancy ?-12. Are these li.ens
ing;houses frequently inspected, and by what officers ?-13. Are
offenders frequently apprehended there ?-s-11. Are there within
your division any persons who have no visible or known means
of obtaining their livelihood honestly, and who ale believed to
live by habitual depredation, or by illegal means ? Will you
state the nembers and supposed habits of such persons ?-15.
Are the beer-shops or public-houses within your division the
subject of complaint, and are they, in point of fact, ill-con-
ducted ?-16. Since the year 1829, have there been any riots or
tumults-within yetis division; if any, describe them and their
supposed objects?-17. Since the year lfs29, have there been
any fires within your division ; if so, specify their nature, and
whether they were suspected to have been wilfully caused, and
what were tile effects, so far as relates to the loss of life or pro-
perty ?-18. Was any efficient assistance rendered by the con-
stables in arresting the progress of the tires, or in apprehending
nifenders or suspected persons ?-19. Since the same period,
have there been any malicious injuries committed on cattle, or
Other property ; and if so, what number ?-20. Is there reason
to believe that offences of any description within your division
are much more frequent than any official information would
give reason to suppose ?-21. What is the number of constables
its your division, and how are they appointed?-22. From what
class of persons are they usually selected, and are they per-
Mitted to provide substitutes?--23. What description of per-
suns usually sworn as substitutes?-23. What is usually paid
them by the principal ?-23- Have the persons serving as sub-
stitutes any other emoluments or inducements to serve the
office ?s--26. Have constables or other substitutes a competent
knowledge of the law with relation to the duties of their office ?
-.27. Are their connections or interests such as might tempt
thein.to connive at illegal practices, or cause them to be less
active than they ought to lie in the performance of their duty ?
-28, Can you ascertain by 'examining competent persons who
have served the office of constable, what is the annual cost on
the average to the public and the individual of the services of a
constable during, the year?-29. Does any nightly -patrol ap-
pear to be requisite.. within your division?-3U. Do the high-
roads within your division require patrolling ?-31. In the' case
of the ceminission of any offence, are there any publicaneans
efvomptlypreachtig information or of pursuing the offender ?
-Describe 'the means and specify the eats:m.of district over
which such infmmation can be carried, iu what time, and.at
what cost?-32. In case of the occurrence of any. riots, or tu-
mults, -what 'rooms are available for their suppression and the
appreh&osiiiii of the offenders ? and on you find any difficulty in
securing the prompt attendance of a sufficient number of per-
sons to act efficiently as special 'constab.es fur the protection of
our division.?-33. In case of need, are there any, and what,
means s co.operqiien between your division and other divisions
in the same or 'different counties ?-31. Are there within your
orvisroo.any, and what class of persons, such as army penSion-
ers or others who may he relied upon-for trust-worthy service
as special constables ?-35. Is any_ difficulty or delay experi-
enced.in the service of warrants, or the execution of processes,
or in the performance of their duties, civil mid penal, by con.
stables as at present appointed within your division ? If so,
specify the difficulties and their consequences.-3ti. Do any
delays or obstructions arise from constables being restricted
froM acting tie)mirl their immediate district ?-37. Are there
within your diyisiou any and -what nninber of ravens paid to
keep the peace, or give. their whole time to their duties as con-
stables ? if sn, state what is the whole expense of maintaining
them, inchiding their salaries and equipments, the authority
tinder which they are appointed, and toe fund out of which they
are paid?-38. On the appiebension of any offender, to what
distance is it requisite to take him to a magistrates?-39. itt
case a prisoner is remanded for further examination, in what
place cud manner is he secured ; Hod to what distance is it
necessary to send him to a place of legal confinement ?sselo.
In case he is committed for trial, what is the.. distance of the
prison to whieh he must be sent, and what is the expense cif his
Icing sent thither, including his maintenance.?-41. Is any,
Red what part of the procedure before trial the subject of coms
plaint on account of trouble, delay, and expense ? If so, specify
their effect in inducing persons to withhold information or
herwise ?-42. Supposing it desirable to appoint paid consta-
bles to give their whole time. the.performance of their duties,
what other useful functions might be assigned. to them?-43.
1-low urauy Raid constables do you consider would be requisite
io your Oivis,"" ?---44. Are there any voluntary aseociatious for
the protection of property, or the prosecution of offenders, in
your division? It' so, describe them, and state their effects in
preventing crime. Is there within your division any voluntary
association for the suppression of vagrancy. and mendicity ? if
so, state its cffects.-ati. What proportion of the expenses now
incurred by the public in the apprehension and prosecution of
affoiaars die you conceive might be saved by the establishment
of a more efficient preventive three?-47. Do any, and what
addirienal means appear to von to be desirable in your division
for ill/leasing the actual secnrity, arid the sense of security, to
persons and property ?-48. Have you any further information
to give, or suggestions to offer in iurtherlince of the objects of
this commission ?