The Statesman. — 1812-01-13 (London, England)

METROPOLIS•  TO TILE RIGHT HONOURABLE R. RYDER.  Six,—The gloom and horror which for some time past has had possession of the public mind, has been considerably alleviated by the noticeyou have given in the House of Commons respecting the Police ; but it is most ardently hoped, and anxiously expected, that Parliament will not stop at half-measures, but will adopt such plans as will secure the peace and safety of the community. Many improvements may ce►tainly be effected in regard to watching ; but the grand and primary cause of the deluge of crime which has inundated the country, and thrown out such hordes of thieves, robbers, and murderers, upon society, is to be found in our system of Police, and the manner in which it is conducted. Until that system is overturned, and a rational preventive system is introducetl, it will be in vain to look for peace or security. What man of common sense can hear,: without the highest indignation, that Police Magistrates connive at and encourage those nightly assemblies of villains, in every quarter of the town, who meet for the sole and express purpose of concerting and maturing plans of depredation !!!—Can this be called Police ?—Again, do the runners er thief-tekers exert themselves to prevent crime ? quite the contrary ; their plan is to encourage it, in order that they may receive the reward for detection ; nor. will this ever happen, if the thief can bribe higher than the reward ; these are disgraceful facts welt known, and has long been a reproach to the country. What dreadful crimes would have been prevented, and how many useful lives would hive been spared for the benefit of society, had a different s) stem been pureed ! Only last week, at the house of a Mrs. Mann N, on the knowledge of an intended robbery, the Police Officers patiently waited night Rfter night till two pcor wretches had committed a crime, which would forfeit 'heir Ryes, nay more, as murder would perhaps bring a larger reward than robbery, they waited till the shrieks of the servantmaid induced them to think that the wretches were adding murder to robbery; nor did they enter till a s.;jicient time was allowed for the horrid deed to be committed ! !—ls this Police ?—Oh detestable.— Four plain and simple measures ought instantly to be taken :  Ist, Arrest and imprison in solitary confinement as long as the law allows, every known or reputed thz,:i and receiver. 2d, Abolish, root and branch, those academies for vice, called thieves' houses.  3d, Discharge the present Police Officers, those dealers in blood and crime, who will never do their duty, without being bribed to it, and engage others at proper, but not enormous salary, who will, at all times, be ready to do their duty without a bribe. 4:1., Appoint in every office new Magistrates, men of common sense, who have not been habituated to the slang and misconduct of a most erroneous, absurd, and condemnable system, which has too long been a disgrace to the country. With these four simple regulations, and that sharp attention which is necessary in every business, any man of common sense may be an efficient Police Magistrate, without submitting his judgment to the intricate{ dictates of a thief-taker, and the community kept in tolerable safety till a new and adequate system of Police is fully matured and carried into effect.  A