Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-10-04
THE LONDON POLICE.
How it 10 Contrclled-Its Members-In.
teresting Facts.


Superintendent McGargle, of the Chicago pc
lice writes to the common council of that city,
as follows
London, perhaps more than any other city in
the world, presents the best field for the study
OF police system. 1t has In it's elements al
most every possible class Of human beings.
whether regarded from q social or national
standpoint. 1t is therefore to be inferred that q
ponce management which controls this enor-
nous ana diverse population must be one OF .
nlgn order and worth q close examination.
The management Of the police force of Lon
don Ii vested In q board of commissioners,
and this board operates under laws made
py parliament, and not through those
made by municipal body. There is
chief commissioner, who corresponds with the
chief OF police In American cities, the two
other commissioners being known az assistants
Besides these there are four district eupsriu-
tendents, who have under them i've superin-
tendents each. There are also inspectors ser
geants and cOnstables, the latter being the same
as our policemen. This force, including all
ranks, numbers IL POS men, who look to the
protection OF nearly 5, 900, 900 people. The area
covered by the Metropolitan police includes the
metropolis. the military stations and govern
ment dockyards. There are twenty districts.
each of which is designated by letter Of the
alphabet. and each policemans division Is des-
lgnated by letter on his coat and number
| shows the subdivision to which he Is assigned
Inc twenty divisions are divided into subdi-
visions, which are controlled by inspectors, and
each subdivision into sections. which are under
the charge Of sergeants, and these are again d.
vlded into beats, which are measured and pa
trOiled by the constables.
portion Of the police force under the tIirec-
ton OF an official known the director of crimi-
nal inspection, is employed as detective force
In this department is included a convict office,
which employs one inspector and eight officers.
and in which are kept criminally classified
albums Of photographs and masks of all conyicts
discharged on license and of all persons who are
under police supervision. Records of all crimi-
mails are also kept here. An applicant for a posi-
ton on the force must send his application to the
commissioner, and certificates Of character fur
nished by reputable people. Applicants are re-
quired to be less than thirty-ive years of age
be able to read and write be Intelligent and free
from any constitutional difficulties, and have no
more than three children II married. The condI-
lions OF accepting q position are that he shall
give his whole time to the service; carry on no
trade; that his wife shall not keep shop: that
ne is to pay all his debts; that when sick "a O
rule, he shall submit to deduction of one shil-
ling day; that there shall be deduction of one
shilling q week from his salary IL he is unmar-
rled; that he shall not resign unless permitted;
that he may be dismissed without any reason
and that when thus dismissed he shall forfeit all
pay: There are three classes Of constables.
when advanced to the second class his pay is in
creased to about 90 IS, and when he reaches the
first class he receives $3.50 per week. In addi-
ti0n to this pay he receives his clothing and
equipments certain amount Of coal, and lodg-
ings, when he is Q single man. 0ratuities are
granted by the secretary of state. One months
pay may be given after i've years service; after
thirty years Of service at the age Of sixty years.
pension equal to three-f1fths of the paw, and
pensions for life Of an amount commensurate
with the circumstances of the case. Any OF
these pensions may be forfeited In case the re-
cipient engages In any act which Is unlawful or
In any business which may be regarded as dis
graceful or injurious
The men are thoroughly drilled in formations,
marching and facing, and, in certain cases, in
the use Of the revolver. There is library at
each of the twenty divisions, which Ii furnished
and kept In repair bya subscription Of two cents
month by each member Of the force There
are nearly 800 blanks to be used In reports,
which refer to the matters that come up under
the control Of the police.