New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-21

AS regards the River TnameS, the au'hoii'! VI
the Metropolitan Police extends beyond their
own district and includes all parts OF inc
river which Joins the counties of Middle
SEX Surrey Berkshire Essex and Kent. ana the
City of London. and all decks wharfs. quays
and landing places adjacent 10 the river. IN
those parts of the river however, which are be-
yond the METROPOLITAN Police District the juris-
diction of the Metropolitan Police is concurrent
with that OF the county or other local police.
CONTROLLED BY THE HOME SECRETARY
As the METROPOLITAN Police is the only force
directly under the control of a Secretary or
State, whenever II has been found necessary 10
appoint police for any imperial purpose the
duties have been imposed upon the Metropolitan
Police and the Commissioner has been en-
powered by statute to swear In sufiicient
number Of constables for the purpose Thus the
royal palaces are under the special charge OF
the Metropolitan Police. who have the powers
Of constabes for ten miles round tneh' anu
they also have charge of Her Majesty > oocN
yards and principal military stations ana sup
ply A sufficient number of police Tor DUTY a'
Woolwich Davenport. Chatham and pembroke
who have full power within those dockyards ana
stations and for fifteen miles round them nave
limited powers with respect to crown properly
and persons who are subject to naval marine
or military discipline.
The Metropolitan Police District is divided
into twenty-five divisions Twenty-one DIVISIONS
are distinguished by letter Of the alphabet
which the sergeants and constables attached to
a division wear with number on their collars
aud helmets 20 enable the public to identity
them The twenty-second is the Thames
Division.
The divisions are very unequal in size, varying
from seven-tenths of a square mile in the case
of the ST. James's o. c division. 10 over
seventy-nine square miles in the case OF 'ne
Hampstead or division. The exterior olVis-
ions. where the population Is more scattered
the traffic less, and the houses fewer are nat
ura.ly by far the largest hut the apporuonmeht
of the police force among the several DIVISIONS
does not depend entirely either upon area OF
population but is determined by variety OF
local circumstances and Is matter OF auhih-
istration requiring great Judgment and intimate
knowledge OF the various parts Of the district
and their needs
The divisions are divided into subdivisions,
the subdivisions into sections. and the sectiohs
into beats which are patrolled by constaoies
who are responsible for the protection or Ire
and property during the time they are on outy'
Every street and road is measured, ana Owls
ions subdivisions sections and beats are clearly
defined in the beat books. so that the NUMBER
and name of the constable on duty in any street
or place at any particular time can be easily
ascertained.
The head office of the Metropolitan Police Is
a large building on the Thames Embankment
close TO the Houses Of Parliament, and IL known
as New Scotland Yard. Telegraphic or teie-
phonic communication is established between
the Head or Commissioners office ana each
division of the Metropolitan Police District, the
of Police.
private residences of the principal officers OF the
,orce and also various public buildings and
military depots: and similar system OF CONF
n,,,nicat ton Is maintained between the principal
station and the sub-divisicnal and sectional
stations of each division. All officers who take
charge Of stations are required TO be eihcienl
telegraphis,s The police telegraph system Is
connected with the system OF the General POST
office and in all cases Of emergency the ponce
are entitled to send messages free OF chaise'
through any postal telegraph ONCE In the he'ro-
politan Police District. The messages however,
are subsequently paid for by a settlement OF
accounts between the Commissioners ana the
Postmaster-Generals offices.
THE HEAD OF THE FORCE.
The principal officer of the Metropolitan Police
is the Commissioner. He is appointed by the
Queen. by warrant under the sign manual ana
scte under the immediate authority Of the Home
Secretary He directs and controls the "hoie
system Of police within the metropolitan fonce
District He is justice of the peace Tor Lohooh
and the adjacent counties Of Middlesex, surrey
Hertford Essex. Kent Berkshire and Bucking-
ham, commonly called the home couhues' oo'
hts functions as a justice of the peace are
specially restricted to the preservation OF the
peace, the prevention Of crimes, the detecuon
and committal of offenders. and the carrying
into execution of the purposes OF the Metropoli-
tan Police Acts He does not act at general or
o,,arter sessions nor in general matters out OF
session He takes no part in the preliminary
examination or committal for trial OF persons
charged with offences. but confines himseil /"
practice to the administrative controi OF the
police force and the prevention and detec'ioh OIL
crime by having persons arrested or sui''ho''e'
10 be dealt with by the ordinary magistrates
The Commissioner makes orders, with the ap'
probation of the Home Secretary Tor the resu
Iation and good government of the police FORCE
These are comprised In the commissioner
regulations, general orders and police orders
the latter usually appearing daily. Many OF
these orders relate to incidents ana coh'ih'
gencies of a passing nature. and some of them
o1.ct particular divisions only. but others are
of a permanent and general nature and form
the nractce of the police in all matters OF detail
The Commissioner makes an annual report u
the Home Secretary which is laid before Parha
ment The person appointed to the high once OF
the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police II
always an officer of rank and experience Inc
present Commissioner. Sir Edward BRADFORD
had a long and distinguished career IN lndia
and under his able administration the Metro
politan Police has attained high degree o.
efaciency, and commands the confidence and re
spect Of the public. The force has long Deer
popular. 1t was only in the first Few years Oh
its existence that any jealousy or ois'rus' "a'
excited by Sir Robert Peers new ponce ooo
bies' or "peelers" as they have ever since pee'
called by generations of street boys VINO hno"
nothing Of the origin Of the name
The Commissioner has power to appoint al
a..I.>.i x..a..l,orc Of he force special duty