The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-17
The London Police.

The metropolitan police force of the
metropolis of England to-day guards and
protects almost 700 square miles of city.
The city and liberties of London, in all
one and three quarter square miles, are
exempt from the power of those who rule
at Whitehall Place. but is mere speck
on the immense tract that submits to aud
is swlyed 10y the blue. coated z. Z. No.
900 and his 10000 companions. They
pass and repass you in these never-endlng
streets; they meet you at every turn.
The Commissioner of the Police of the
metropolis, Col. f. Y. w. Henderson, is
nomiualy responsible to the Secretary
of State for the Home Department, prac
tically responsible to no known being,
and ruling and regu lating, to the entire
satisfaction of the governed 4,O0O,0O0 OF
people. Should your business call for his
personal attention, you would find your
self in communication with tall, El,li-
tary- looking Enyishman, not particular
ly stout, with pleasant, quick voice, and
n manner perfectly in accord with his nd
mirable management of the force under
his charge. But | will say no more in
praise of him; the efficiency of the force
is his sufficient recommendation, and turn
to his charge and prido.
"The CONTROL" said tho Colonel, lis
best explained in this way. The force
is organized as follows: The commits
sioner, two assistant commissioners, four
district upcrintendents, twenty-one SUI
perntendents, 221 inspectors, 1850 SER
geants, and 1875 constables. This force
has Jurisdiction over very large section,
comprising the whole of the country of
Middlesex and those parishes OF which
any part is within twelve miles, and also
those of which any part is not more than
fifteen miles from Charng Cross in u
straight line, in the counties of Surry,
Hartford, Essex and Kent, with the ex-
ception of the city and liberties of Lon
don proper. The Metropolitan police are
also EN- ployed in Her Mnjesty's dock
yards and military stations situated with
in and beyond the Metropolitan Police
District. The entire district is divided
into 81 portions, called divisions, each
distinguished by letter of the alphabet,
which the sergeants and constables at
tached to division wear, with num-
Der on their collars and helmets to enable
the public to identify them and the local
ity to which they belong. The inspectors
wear the letter alone. Each division Is
Under the charge ola superintendent, and
its strength of inspectors, sergeants and
constables, varies according to the extent
of the division and other circumstances.
division is divided into subdivisions,
under the immediate personal supervision
of one or two inspectors, according to
local circumstances; and a subdivision Is
again divided into sections, under charge
of IL sergeant, and these sections are fur
Their reduced into beats, which are pa
trolled by the constables, who are held
responsible for the protection of life and
property during the hours of their duty.
For these purposes every street, slley~ay,
road, &c, in London has been measured,
and all the beats, sections, subdivisions
and divisions are clearly defined in the
"beat books" and maps, and there Is no
difficulty in ascertaining the number and
name of any constable who was ON duty
in any street at any particular time, by
referring to the sergeant's ''slates" OF that
date.-Letter TO the Boston Uerald.