The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-11-16
The London Police.


force of that city.
The history of the London police has
yet to be written, and a very curious record
indeed would be that of the successive
changes always in the direction of i'm
prOvement, which have been made in the
constitution, the discipline and the dress
of the metropolitan and city police since
the force, established by act 10 of George
", commenced duty on Sept. 90, 1899
Although the laundering and inefficient
force Of police constables had by this time
discarded their swallow tailed coats and
their stovepipe hats, the city authorities
excepting for a very short period in 1SiS
hesitated to provide the force with any
weapon whatsoever excepting lantern
and rattle.
Even as late as 1860 the metropolitan
police force numbered only 5000 consta-
bles although the city had over 100000
inhabitants At present its total strength
is 14,0Sl, maintained at a cost of little
over 41,O00,000 C5O00,000). This civilian
army was practically founded by the sec
ond Sir Robert Peel while home secretary,
and was bitterly opposed in the outset by
a large section of the public press The
London police force once national scan
dial, has now become, however, the par
donable pride of every inhabtant of the
city.
At the head of this army of ID, 900 police
Is a snle commissioner called the chief
commissioner of police. He is appointed
by the queen and holds his office for life
A general in the army of twenty years
standing is always selected for the place
some soldier who has distinguished him
self for his executive ability. The present
chief commissioner is Sir Edward Brad
ford, X. c. b., X. c. S. T., who organized
the king of Persia's cavalry some years
ago. His salary is e2500 or Sl2,500 This
commissioner has the appointment of three
assistant commissioners at a salary of
81 500 $1,000 and allowances of about
$500 a year extra, These assistants are
chosen from the ranks of barristers who
have distinguished themselves for upward
of twelve years in the criminal courts.
Next in rank come four chief constables,
who likewise must be chosen from the list
of army officers in good standing.
There is strictly no politics in any of
these appointments, and they are all for
life or during good behavior. 1t would
seem fitting to put an experienced army
officer at the head of such body of men
and especially fitting to join with him as
his assistants three experienced criminal
lawyers.
In addition to the IA, 600 uniformed police
there are 600 detectives and 500 mounted
police. The department breed all their
own horses, and they board in barracks
all bachelors belonging to the force-at
one shilling IA week.
The pay of an ordinary constable is from
thirty to thirty-six shillings (S7. 80 to $9) a
week The detectives or inspectors receive
a1S5 1925 year, and IS (S25) advance for
each year of service for ten years and then
9l0 advance for the next fifteen years. Aft
er twenty-five years service they are pen
stoned for life on two-thirds pay. The ser
! geants of police receive forty-fve shillings
| (S1l.25) "a week and are only chosen from
| the ranks of constables. Every one con-
nected with the force, excepting the com
missioner and his assistants and the four
chief constables, must rise in the service
! from the lowest ranks.
| No ordinary policeman is allowed TO
carry revolver excepting in the suburbs,
! where revolvers are handed to the men
| when going out on duty and are inspected
| each morning to see if any shot has been
! fired. Each officer must likewise report
each use of his stick or truncheon. There
| is almost no drunkenness found among
the force. Most OF the men are recruits
!
Any policeman found intoxicated off serv-
| ice is put back from two to three years in
rank and pay, aud if found drunk while on
service is discharged at once.
Any one visiting London for the first
time is stunned on week days by the tour
| billion of movement in its streets and the
constant eddies at all the great crossings
| in the whirlpool of its business life such as
no other city in the world can show. 1t is
estimated that over 10000 vehicles pass the
Bank of England each day. Such a thing
as a block or stoppage in the stream of We
hicles for more than a moment is never al
lowed to occur, thanks to the skillful man
agement of the police under the present
perfect system There is an officer at
nearly every street corner and any driver
or cabmap who advances yard beyond
the appraised hand of the officer may expect
to have his number taken and is certain to
have a two pound fine to pay. If he drives
on his license is forfeited. This is not a
rule simply, for the law is invariably en-
forced and the consequence is absolute
order and freedom from blocks.
The police seldom use force. 1t is not
necessary in city where the laws are en-
forced with unfailing promptness and Ger
tainty In consequence perhaps the most
unruly class of men in the world-the
London cabbies-stand in absolute awe of
the police. This feeling is shared equally
by all tradespeople. / was assured on the
best authority that there was not dis
orderly house or policy shop in the en-
tire city of London with its 900 square
miles and its streets and roads measuring
$500 miles in aggregate length and over
100000 inhabitants 1t is commonly said
of London that there are more Scotchmen
there than in Edinburgh, more Irish than
in Dublin, more Jews than in Palestine
and more Roman Catholics than in Rome.
Nothing is allowed to be sold in the way
of either food or drink after IL o'clock, and
every public restaurant or bar must be