The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-10-09
London Police Force.

The report of the London (metropoli-
| tam police for 1873 contains many in
structive facts. 1t discloses the con.
ditions that must be observed before a
police force can be made efficient in the
highest degree. London is growing
rapidly, and an increase of crime may
be looked for from year to year but
this was not the case for 1873, at least.
In that year, owing to the vigilance of
the police, marked decrease is shown.
The number of burglaries committed
during the year was only 32S, the small
est list in any year since 1865. Highway
robberies have dwindled from lat in
1869 to SO in 1873. Grand larcenies
have failed off from 1909 in 1867 to
498. And about the same ratio of crime
is noticed in all crimes of kind which
may be prevented by the watchfulness
of the police. The police have in former
years suffered excessively from attacks
of the " roughs," but these villains are
gradually acquiring a wholesome dread
of their ancient foes, and We see the as
saults of this character count up only
1921 last year, against 1892 the year
previous. Differences as striking as
these-showing gradual improvement
IN the police government of London
can only be explained on the theory of
a police becoming more devoted to their
duty, for we find that the yearly increase
IN the force is merely nominal. Only
122 were added to the number during
the past year. The facts presented by
Commissioner Henderson prove the |
average good character of the men in |
the service. During the whole year.
out of 9, 858 men on police duty, only II |
were charged with offsenses before a |
and of these IL only were |
convicted, and all but two of minor Of |
fenses. 1t is noticed that II out of the |
seventeen were constables of less than
two years service. Few, if any, of the
officers arrested for misconduct have
belonged to the force for five years.
The general admitted excellence of the
London police is attributed to two
causes. First, politics and changes of
government have nothing whatever to
do with the appointment and retention
Of the men. They are chosen, as rule,
for their intelligence, sobriety, and ply
steal and moral fitness. In the selec-
ton the greatest care is exercised, and
the examiners have brought the study
Of candidates to point so fine that they
are rarely imposed on by wholly un-
worthy men. Once appointed, their
is permanent during good be-
1avior. The policeman comes to regard
his work as professional and lifelong.
Secondly, the men on the police, if in
,apacitated by injuries received in the
discharge of their duty, or invalidated
1y long service and old age. are retired
lpon pensions, varying according to
Last year over two hun
lred were thus provided for. A Lon
lon policeman has distinct object be-
ore him, encouraging him to the faith
nj discharge of his duty. Another
eason for the diminution of crime in
london is the severe punishment that
low awaits the detected criminal. The
magistrates latterly have been passing !
sentences, and the effect has
'een to repress the tendency to crime.
severity can only be regard
d as auxiliary to an efficient police.
Exemplary sentences cannot frighten
urglars from robbing houses so long as
hey have little fear of arrest.