enforced by legislative enactment, as would give an uniformity and permanency to such a system. The metropolis is considered as divided into three parts:

"The city of London, properly so called, and the liberties thereof; the city of Westminster, and the liberties thereof; the several parishes which are neither within the city of London and its liberties, or the city of Westminster and its liberties.”

The city of London is governed by various ancient charters and statutes. The statute of the 13th of Edward I. (Statutum Civitatis London,) is one of the most ancient; but the principal act which at this time regulates the nightly watch of the city of London, is the 10 Geo. II. c. 22. by which the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and common council, are directed yearly to make regulatious on this subject, and the aldermen and common councilmen in each ward are to -carry these regulations into effect, and make such minor regulations as to details, as they may judge necessary. The act specifies the duties of the constables and watchmen, and prescribes the mode in which they are to be punished for misconduct or neglect.

The city of London, from the nature of its magistracy, the description of its various public officers, the gradation and subordination of their various classes, the . division and subdivision of its local limits, affords an example of that unity, and of that dependance of parts on each other, without which no well constructed and efficient system of police can ever be expected. If such a system could be successfully imitated in Westminster and its liberties, and within the

other adjacent parishes, considerable benefit might be expected; for your committee are disposed to concur with several witnesses, that a well arranged system of superintendance, vigilance, and controul, would tend more to the prevention of crimes, than any degree of activity in the pursuit and conviction of criminals: however, the two systems are not only not incompatible, but would afford mutual aid and assistance to each other.

This system of watch and ward, adapted by the legislature to the city of London, is not a dead letter, but is kept alive and in action by the constant superintendance of the marshals of the city, with their assistants, who every night visit the different wards and precincts, and take care that the constables, beadles, and watchmen of all descriptions, are alert and do their duty. Morning reports are made to the Lord Mayor; deficiencies are noticed, as well as any disorders or irregularities, or other occurrences.

The city of Westminster, having never been incorporated, is not provided with the same means, and the same gradations of its public officers, to insure the unity and efficiency of its exertions for the prevention of crimes.

By the statute of the 27th of Elizabeth, presiding and subordinate officers are appointed, and powers given to the dean and chapter, and to the high steward, and others, to make regulations for the good government of Westminster. Lord Burleigh was the first high steward, and a code of regulations was introduced by him, and a division of its local limits into 12 wards. This statute is specially referred to, and its powers enlarged,

enlarged, by the 29 Geo. II. c. 25. and by the 31 Geo. II. c. 17. and an unity and gradation of authority are endeavoured to be established; and the high constable is directed to obey the orders of the high steward, and the petty constables to obey the high steward.

The duties and superintendance of the high steward have fallen into great disuse, although very important duties are imposed on him. It appears, however, that on great occasions of ceremony, he has from time to time personally interfered, and put himself at the -head of the whole civil force of the city of Westminster, marshalling and arranging the subordinate officers. The present bigh steward, the Marquis of Buckingham, is stated to have so interfered at the funeral of Lord Nelson and Mr. Pitt.

The statute of 14 Geo. III. c. 90. seems to have superseded this sys tem. It is a local act applicable to the city and liberties of West-minster, and certain other parishes therein named; and prescribes the duties of constables, beadles, patroles, and watchmen. It is not founded upon the principle of 10 - Geo. II. c. 22 which relates to the city of London, but it limits the discretionary powers of the different -parochial authorities, and prescribes the exact manner in which the various descriptions of persons employed must discharge their duties, and defines the smallest number which each parish is to employ, and the lowest amount of wages to be paid. It details the manner in which misconduct and neglect is to be punished, and meritorious exertions rewarded. It is observable, that both these sta

tutes refer to the ancient statute of watch and ward, the 13th Edw. I. and recognize the principle, that the protection of every district is a compulsory duty incumbent on the inhabitants; and, therefore, an express clause is inserted in each of these acts, to discharge from this duty such inhabitants as shall contribute to the rate for defraying the expense of such ward and watch. Other parishes or hamlets are governed by particular acts of parliament, authorising the raising of rates for watching and lighting; but, in many cases, the execution of the law is extremely defective, and in some cases the power of raising money is inadequate. In other parishes there is no legislative provision; and neither the magistracy or the government have at present any connection whatever with the state of the watch, and no controul or superintendance over it.

Your committee feel that much would be done by merely extending the provisions of the 14 Geo. III. to the adjacent parishes in and near the metropolis, provided it were duly executed; bat they are convinced that it may receive very beneficial amendments, for the details of which they would refer to the appendix, stating here only, that in rany instances it may be absolutely necessary to give powers for levying a higher rate than is now allowed, in order to defray the expense arising from an increase of the numbers or wages of the persons employed in different capacities in the nightly watch; your committee being strongly impressed with the opinion of the expediency, if not necessity, of relieving the watch once

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at least in the night. But the main improvement of this law would consist in creating a superintending power, to whose discretion should be intrusted the dismissal of the persons appointed by the parochial authorities in cases of misconduct, negligence, or inability, and to whom it should belong to enforce generally, if necessary, the due execution of this act. Your committee, considering with this view whether there are any public bodies on whom might conveniently be imposed the duty of connecting in some degree the scattered parochial authorities, have naturally found their attention directed to the Boards of Magistracy which have been created by the 32 Geo. III. c. 53. which establishes seven Boards of Magistracy. These Boards have obtained the name of Police Offices, although neither by the provisions of this act, nor by the nature of their duties, have they any superintendance whatever in matters of preventive and parochial police; they merely constitute the first stage in the administration of criminal jurisprudence. It would seem to be extraordinary, that in London there should be no office in which information is collected from which intelligence can be obtained as to the state of the police. The Secretary of State for the home department, has not, necessarily, any knowledge on this subject, except with reference to crimes committed.

The greatest advantages would arise from making use of these boards of magistracy, as constituting centres to which information might constantly be communicated, and daily reports made from the several parishes. It should be

the duty of some of the principal officers, attached to the several boards of magistracy, to go rounds according to some rotation, and to visit the several watch-houses, and report in the morning to the office to which they are attached. It should be the duty of the high constable occasionally to make similar visitations and reports. It is further recommended, that the provisions of the statute of 14 Geo. III. cap. 90, should be extended, which, after having prescribed the general outline of the manner in which watch is to be kept, directs that the several parochial authorities shall meet, and make more detailed rules and regulations for the instruction and guidance of the constables, beadles, patroles, and watchmen. Copies of such rules and regulations should also be transmitted to the police office of the district, that the officers may judge whether such regulations are complied with. Copies should be affixed to the watch-house. But the system would be imperfect unless information, collected at each of the seven boards of magistracy, was accumulated at some one central point, in order that there may be the means of comparing the oc currences and circumstances of the various parts of the town. The office at Bow-street might form the centre, to which this various information should be transmitted.

It would probably be necessary to attach to it some fit person, whose immediate duty should be to compare and digest such information, for the purpose of being communicated to that board of magistrates, and to the secretary of state. Although this part of the subject be of pre-eminent importance,

importance, and as some of the witnesses have said, to be all in all, yet there are several other measures which may come in aid of this system.

With this view the police office at Wapping, cailed the Thames Police Office, for the detection of felonies, &c. committed on the river Thames, is noticed. Its funds are inadequate for such an establishment as would be necessary to guard the property on the line of river from London bridge to Battersea. An additional number of boats should be provided for the river above bridge.

The increasing population in the neighbourhood of Greenwich requires another police office on that side of the river. It is in the contemplation of government to remove the Thames Police Office to the Surrey side, for that purpose: this might then be made an office for an eighth division. The most notorious pickpockets and other reputed thieves, are permitted to frequent the public avenues of the town with impunity, notwithstanding the provisions of 32 Geo. III. made for the purpose of their apprehension but the law, as it now stands, does not authorize the officer to apprehend them, unless, first, they are seen in some public avenue; secondly, unless they are reputed thieves; and, thirdly, unless they are on the spot with the intent to commit a felony. This can be proved only by some overt act which they are seen to commit; such as hustling, attempting the, pocket, or the like. It has been suggested, that if further powers were given by the legislature, the apprehension of the seoffenders would be greatly facilitated; but on the VOL. LIV.

other hand, it has not occurred to your committee that the powers already given could be enlarged consistently with the general liberty of the subject. Doubts, however, have arisen on the construction of this act, and the subsequent act of 51 Geo. III. whether they extend to the city of London (properly so called), which is stated to be at present the resort of many reputed' thieves, from the shelter afforded by the act being understood to be so limited; it seems therefore de→ sirable that it should be amended for this purpose.

It is at present very difficult to convict receivers of stolen goods; but your committee think that the evil would be much checked, if the law with respect to the execution of search-warrants were amended, and the officer enabled to put them in force as well by night as by day, under the direction of the magistrates.

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Hackney coaches frequently are used for the conveyance of stolen property in the night, and to avoid detection, the proper number of the coach is frequently taken off, and another substituted during the time they are in waiting; this might in some degree be remedied, by direeting the proper number to be painted on the paunel of the coach.

Your committee fully agree in the recommendation of a former committee (28 Report Finance),· that the magistrates should have further means of rewarding their officers for extraordinary activity and exertions, as the case might require. If this power was given to a limited extent, the police officers might be precluded in future from participating in the rewards given by act of parliament. The Z

rewards