Widnes Examiner. — 1898-04-15 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

JOHN W. MILLS.  THE PROPOSED NEW POLICE BUILDINGS.  Sir,—ln a leaderette in " The Examiner" of the 28th of March you informed the public that "there are many signs that the realisation of the project is yet in the dim and distant future." The news would, no doubt, be very welcome to the ratepayers who feel the burdens of local taxation to be very heavy indeed. And knowing that the improvements in Bridge-et. will ere long make further demands upon them they are in no mood to sanction the outlay of a large sum for police purposes. But why should Warrington have a new police building at all ! The present accommodation has served the town for a long time, and wt are not aware that Mr. Hunt, the late Chief Constable,ever made any complaint about its smallness or unsuitability. The population of the Borough has certainly risen a few thousand since the last census, but surely it does net follow that such increase should of necessity be accompanied by further developments of the crime and disorder with which the police have to deal. A large proportion of the addition is no doubt made up of children and young persons who are not contributors to the labours of the policeman. A police station whether large or small is neither an ornament nor a credit to a community, but, unfortunately, in the present conditions of our social life it is an institution which cannot be altogether dispensed with. But something might be done to minimise it, and that without entailing any expense upon the ratepayers. It is well known both to our town counillers and magistrates that most of the evils from wh .ch our constables are supposed to guard us have their origin in the public-bouses. Now as prevention is better than cure surely it would be a wise and humane policy to reduce the number of such houses and thereby promote , the best interests of the people, and at the same time bring police expenditure to the minimum. It might be objected that such a policy would militate against the pecuniary interests of the brewers and publicans. No doubt this would be so, but the brewers and publicans of Warrington are a very small fraction of the inhabitants indeed, and no righteous man would ever think of subordinating the peace,order and general welfare of 60,000 people to the ignoble profits of a handful of liquor sellers. Well indeed it would be for the town if some good spirit would put it into the hearts of our justices to adopt the policy I have indicated. The process of reduction might be slow so as to give the Publicans time and opportunity to turn their attention to other callings. The cancelling of half a dozen licenses eery year would produce such good results that the scheme for a new police station would disappear altogether. Then what a change the policy would make in the condition of the working classes. As year by year the public houses became smaller by degreestand beautifully less the temptations to rpend their money for nought would become fewer and fewer ; their homes would be brighter aud happier, and peace and order wonld reign in the etrsets. And even the magistrates themselves would benefit by the change. Their time would no longer be spent in the miserable work of inflicting punishment upon the unfortunate clients of the publicans, or in adjudicating upon thefts, murders and other crimes committed through drunkenness. And. better still, the blessing of multitudes rsady to perish would fall upon then.—Yours truly,