Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-08-10
THE LONDON POLICE.
How Consfahuiary Work IL Done A Maanid-
cen, cysanixa,ien ana Its Arduous Labors--
ttntfsfies OF Crime.


How Consfahuiary Work IL Done A Magnia.
cen, Organization ana Its Arduous Labors--
Statistics Of Crime.
IL was lust Q o'clock In tho morning,
and reckoned that ever since 10 O'Clock
Of the last event: g fifteen minutes had never
fully elapsed without some case or other
being brought TO the police station, says q
London letter TO the New York San. The
station referred 10 ~ In Bow street, aud Is
the quarter Of the Il or Holborn division,
no doubt one Of the most important OF the
nineteen metropolitan divisions. Ii con-
tains 40 theatres. music-balis, and dancing
rooms, 4S1 public houses, 283 refresh
ment rooms, aud 81 beer-houses. II
has 10 deal with the rough porters OF
Covent-Garden market, the rlotous settle
N, nts Of Drury lane, and the garroters
and assasslns Of the thames embankmeDt.
In the year 1882 1t received 1889 tele-
grams and sent 14.S03. and business has in
creased since. The strength OF that divi-
sion is / superintendent, IA inspectors, 81
police sergeants, and sol constables. None
Of that nights cases was very important.
The two most interesting were the attempt
OF q very inpocent.looking young woman
TO pass q counterfeit coin. and the adyen-
lure OF q young apprentice whom bis
father refused TO take in for the night,
alleging that he was not bringing home
enough money.
Lots Of people come for advice 10 the po-
ice station, and contribute not little 10
swell The occupation and try the patience
OF the inspectors. After the lad came two
women, whose devastated faces and gar
A.. - hat hoI l.ff mo
OF ending their quarrels untried before re-
sorting TO the appea! to the Inspector. This
shows that the Work Of the London police
inspector Is not nominal. He bus 70 write
down every occurrence which happens In
the division, and send in full report every
tw,nty-four hours OF every crime, ard gen
orally of all events Of Importance that come
TO his knowledge. Extracts OF these re-
ports are published in the "criminal In
formation " paper, Of which three editions
are daily published for the use Of the po-
lice, describing all offences against life and
property reported between each issue. II IS
as well 10 add here that besides this paper
the police publish kind OF pawnbrokers'
gazette, with iull descriptions OF stolen
properly, for the use Of the trades-people,
10 whom robbers generally resort. The
numl er Of inspectors varies with every di-
vision. Each remains in turn on duty for
twenty-four hours. He can sleep, II he
ends ilme. on the plank in the o1iice-not
on he'd during the night. The A or
Whitehall division has 62 OF them. The l.
or Lambeth division only 10. The total
strength Of The metropolitan police on De
cember 81, 1852. was | commissioner, as
sistant commissioners. director, % super
intendents. GIL inspectors. 917 sergeants,
and 10, csc constables-tOtal. III 500. HORSES,
$50. This force has been slightly increased
since on account OF the extra duties re-
CURED to protect the capital against the
inisdeeds Of the dynamiters.
This little army has not only 10 protect
London; il is also instructed with the pro-
lection Of the dockyards and military sta
tons Of WoOlwicb, Portsmouth, Deven-
port, Chatham. and Pembroke. On the
other hand, IL has nothing TO do with the
city proper, which possesses its own dis
t.fct police, called the city police. placed
under the direct and exclusive rule of the
city corporation.
The metropolitan police is under the
home office. II IL commanded 10y com
missioner and two assistant commissioners.
Then there is the director OF criminal IN
yestigationS. This arrangement is not
quite the best that might be conceived.
No doubt the city police and the metro
pOlitan police work together in q
friendly manner, but 1t does not re-
qlire a professional mind TO understand
that their separation is not conducive 10
prompt action. Then, again, real unity
does not exist IN the metropolitan police
itself; for not only are there practically
two heads TO that department-the commits
sioner and the director Of criminal inyesti-
gations-whose respective powers are not
always very distinct, but both are still not
interiered with by the Home
Secretary. who generally steps IN every
case with his theories and d.
IL seems, therefore, that matters
could he usefully simplfied. The Director
Of tee Criminal Investigations Department,
Mr.. Vincent, has Just left the Office which
be has ably organized.
In 1875 grand scandal occurred in police
.ircles. Ii suddenly came to light that four
Df the best and most efficient detectives OF
Scotland yard had been cOnnlving with
most efficient gong OF criminals. \ CON-
plete and thorough reform OF the depart
ment was found necessary, and the work
was intrusted to Mr.. Vincent. At that
time there were only thirty detectives; TO-
day there are two hundred and sixty Of
them. II would be well, perhaps, now To
consider II advantage ought not TO be taken
Of the vacancy created by the resignation
Of this intelligent and active official TO
condenSe and centralize the whole system.
However. Notwithstanding It's defects,
the metropolitan police Is still ve.y good
and efficient body. Ii does not suppress every
maIefactor. nor yet iriebten out OF action
the criminal classes; but what police does
Ii has not, above all, won great fame in its
against the Fenians, but those
Fenisns aie no ordinary customers: be.
sides. they are specially organized to defeat
The action OF the police, while the metro
poItan police is quite unprepared TO meet
them. This, of course, is wrong, but ii is
not Tess fact. The few arrests made by
the police in the matter OF dynamite have
been owing TO informers. to the treachery
Of some conspirators. not TO the Ingenuity
and skill of the police.
People think that political police exists
here. There is nothing OF the kind. The
same agents that are set In pursuit OF pick
pockets and other ordinary offenders are
employed 10 ferret out the dyn1mitcrs. A
few Irish detectives have been temporarily
added TO the ordinary staff OF Scotland
yard on the ground OF the presumed nation
act with, and not independently Of, the |
agents. There is no secret |
police; in fact the whole thing is conducted |
with considerable publicity. The de- |
tectivcs told of from Ireland have |
hardly begun TO enjoy the invigoratine !
breeze VI e.. Georges channel be. |
fore detailed description OF their per-
sons reaches the parties Il is their mis-
sion TO catch and surprise. Their an.
nounced arrival at Whitehall is watched by |
sharp eyes, which complete for their own
sake and the instruction Of friends the val. /
liable knowledge already at band. II we 1
add TO this that the English detectives are |
hsbitually employed in the same sort OF /
cases. on the ground OF the advantages OF
experience aud practice. and that therefore
The features Of the agents usually .ntrusted |
with searching into political crimes are also |
as familiar to political offenders as those Of
ones creditors, the felon's chances are GER
tsinly not small. This. moreover, has to
be 1orne In mind: that the felons have their
police also. or rather their agents. who |
manage TO know q great deal.
IL would he wrong. however. to con.
,lude from tins that the criminal people
baye II all their own way, and hold the mo
'r0polis quite at their mercy. II the efforts
~ the police TO discover the authors OF
many outrsges too often fail. ii is but Jus,
md necessary TO add that their efforts 10
prevent outrages from being committed by
Ietiye and steady watching are far from
1eing fruitless, and the public would be