History and the Metropolitan Police

Period 1   Pre-1829

1712

Last conviction for witchcraft (last executions for witchcraft were - in England 1680s;  in Scotland 1729)

1748

Henry FIELDING appointed magistrate at Bow Street.

1751

Gin Act.

Henry FIELDING’s half-brother, John FIELDING became his assistant at Bow Street.

1752

Covent Garden Journal produced by Henry FIELDING, who starts to employ special officers at Bow Street 1753.

1754

Sir Henry FIELDING died. Succeeded at Bow Street by John FIELDING, blind from the age of nineteen and known as ‘The Blind Beak’.

1755

John FIELDING’s ‘Plan to Prevent Robberies’ Act making constables for the whole of City of Westminster and not just parish offices.

Saunders WELCH appointed assistant to John FIELDING at Bow Street.

1758

John FIELDING’s ‘Account of the Origin and Effects of a Police’

1760

John FIELDING knighted.

1763

Bow Street Horse Patrol created by Sir John FIELDING.

1765

Journeymen-Weavers riots ( Spitalfields).

1766

Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws of England.

1767

Feb 24

Patrick Redmond revived after his hanging.

1768

Coal-heavers marched to the Palace Yard.  John FIELDING persuaded leaders to meet employers at Bow Street

1770

First Parliamentary Commission on Police.

Lease on John FIELDING’s house in Bow Street expired. Renewed for 10 years.

1772

Parliamentary enquiry into burglaries in London.

1773

Committee on Nightly Watch in the Metropolis.

Grants for Thief-Takers and Horse Patrol amalgamated.

“The Weekly Pursuit” published

1774

Act for better regulation of Nightly Watch.

1780

Gordon Riots.  Bow Street, Newgate prison and many other premises, particularly homes of Catholics, badly damaged.

Sir John FIELDING died.

1782

Sir Sampson WRIGHT appointed magistrate at Bow Street, and organises patrols.

1783

Processions to Tyburn discontinued.   Use of a drop introduced to improve hanging method.

1784

Litchfield Street Police Office closed on death of Saunders WELCH.

1785

London and Westminster Police Bill. Three Commissioners and 225 paid men (9 Superintendents).

1786

‘Public Hue and Cry’ (later ‘Police Gazette’) started by Sampson WRIGHT.  (Replaced “The Weekly Pursuit”)

Police established in Dublin.

1787

Botany Bay made a convict settlement.

1788

Sir Robert PEEL born

1792

Middlesex and Surrey Justices Act established 7 London Police Courts, each with 3 magistrates and 6 constables (at 12 shillings per week).  Offices set up at Hatton Garden, Worship Street, Whitechapel, Shadwell, Southwark, Queen Street and Great Marlborough Street

Stipendiary Magistrates created.

1793

Committee on Nightly Watch in the Metropolis.

1796

Dr Patrick COLQUHOUN’s ‘Treatise on Police of the Metropolis’

1798

Establishment of Marine Police for Thames by Dr Patrick COLQUHOUN.

1800

Robert PEEL knighted.

1804

It is believed that in this year there were 2,044 parish constables in the Metropolis, including the City of London, divided into six classes:

i)  Unpaid parish constable elected annually in accordance with ancient custom

ii)  Substitute constables (stipendiary ex-army officers) appointed by the justices.

iii) Special Constables appointed for specific duty

iv)  Salaried constables of the nine magisterial offices of the Metropolis

v)  Thames Police surveyor and subordinate constables

vi)  Bow Street Constables and Patrols.

1805 - 6

Horse Patrol re-established and extended to patrol main roads by Sir Richard Ford (died 1906) .

1809

New Covent Garden Theatre Opened. Rioting over price increases.

1811

Ratcliffe Highway murders. (Stepney)

1812

Capital Punishment abolished for soldiers begging without permission of Commanding Officer or Magistrate.

Select Committee on Police.

May 11

Prime Minister, Mr PERCIVAL, murdered by John BELLINGHAM

1813

REED resigned from Bow Street.    Succeeded by Sir Nathaniel CONANT.

1814

Peace Preservation Act (Irish Police).

1815

Boy of 10 hanged for stealing handkerchief.

1816

Parliamentary Committee on Police.

Pillory abolished for all offences except perjury.

George VAUGHAN, thief-taker, executed.

1817

VIDOCQ formed Brigade de Surete in Paris.

Last person hanged, drawn and quartered (Jeremiah BRANDRETH). (Derby)

Flogging in public abolished

1818

Trial by Battle claimed by Abraham THORNTON

1820

Sir Nathaniel CONANT (Chief Magistrate) retired. Succeeded by Sir Robert BAKER.

Cato Street Conspiracy.

Disturbances after return of Queen Caroline to country.

1821

Patrols re-organised by Lord SIDMOUTH. Foot Patrols in Central London; dismounted foot patrols in outer area.

Riots in passing of Queen Caroline’s funeral procession through City.   Disorder, in which two men apparently shot by Life Guards, leads to an identification parade of soldiers in their uniforms.

1821

Sir Richard BIRNIE appointed Chief Magistrate

 1822

Sir Robert PEEL became Home Secretary.  

1824

Vagrancy Act.

1826

Pay of Bow Street Runners increased 6 pence per night for every 7 years’ service.

1827

Last coiner drawn to scaffold on sledge (Edward LOWE)

Stocks abolished and treadwheel introduced

1828

Parliamentary Committee on Police.

Population of London 1,349,000.

“The Police Gazette” published, replaced the “Hue and Cry”