1829

John WRAY appointed Receiver

Ellis and Ellis appointed Police Solicitors (until 1874).

Pawnbrokers lists commenced

Last Execution for forgery. (abolished 1832)

Capital punishment for burglary abolished.

Bridewell New Prison erected. (Demolished 1864)

Metropolitan Police Divisions ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ established

Truncheons for the Metropolitan Police were made of Bamboo on lancewood and 20” long.

Scotland Yard - 4 Whitehall Place (until 1890)

Establishment of the Metropolitan Police:

8 Superintendents

20 Inspectors

88 Sergeants

895 Constables

5 Clerks for the Commissioner and Receiver

Apr 15

Sir Robert PEEL introduced the Metropolitan Police Bill

Jun 19

Royal Assent given to Metropolitan Police Bill.

Jul 4

George Shillibeer’s omnibuses appeared

Jul 7

Colonel, Sir Charles ROWAN and Richard MAYNE appointed as Justices of the Peace and joint Commissioners in charge of the force.

Sep 17

First Police Orders issued - in manuscript.

Sep 30

At 6 pm first Metropolitan Police Officers marched out onto the streets of London. Pay 21 shillings per week.    They had been recruited from 21 September.   Police Orders of 29 September instructed the Inspectors to take charge of the watch houses from 4pm on Wednesday 30 September, and to await the arrival of the men, who were also instructed in the same Order to acquaint themselves with their beats for the following day.

Uniform:  Blue  single-breasted swallow tail coat, 8 gilt buttons down front (each with Victoria Crown and words ‘Police Force’), 4” Leather Stock fastened at the back with brass clasp, Blue trousers (white in summer), strapped-over boots, black leather top hat. 

Other rates of pay:

Superintendent: £200 pa; Inspector: £100 pa;

Sergeant: 22 shillings and 6 pence per week

Oct 12

Metropolitan Police Instruction Book issued. (Police Order 17 Oct 1829)

Dec

‘M’ Division established

1830

Population of London 1,200,000.

Peasant’s Revolt

Post of Chief Medical Officer for the Metropolitan Police created

‘G’, ‘H’, ‘K’, ‘L’, ‘N’, ‘P’, ‘R’, ‘S’, ‘T’, and ‘V’ Divisions established

Uniform: Sergeants and Constables issued with gloves - white for summer, black worsted for winter.

Mar

Uniform: Armlets introduced - worn on left arm to indicate that they were on duty (withdrawn July 1968)

May 17

Night-watchmen (‘Charlies’) disbanded

Jun

17 Divisions completed; strength 3,350, 164 per Division; 8 Sections; 8 Beats. 17 Superintendents, 68 Inspectors, 323 Sergeants, 2,706 PCs.

Jun 28

PC Joseph 169 ‘S’ Division, GRANTHAM (Wt No 3170), kicked in the head while attempting to arrest a drunken man at a disturbance in Somers Town.

Aug 18

PC LONG (Wt No 1715), ‘G’ Division, stabbed to death (by SAPWELL) when he challenged three suspects near Grays Inn Lane.

Dec 17

Last pirates executed at Execution Dock, Wapping, (George James DAVIS and William WATTS)

1831

Tothill Fields Prison rebuilt

London Hackney Carriage Act

Further riots. A crowd attacked Apsley House, home of the Duke of Wellington, and break all windows. The police eventually restored order.

 Italian Boy murder committed, linked to illegal provision of bodies for medical students.

Reform Bill riots at Bristol

First edition of ‘Confidential Informations’

Oct 15

Special Constables Act.  Two or more JPs empowered to appoint specials upon information on oath that disturbance exists or is feared.

1832

Richard MAYNE, the Commissioner, tried to clarify the roles of the Magistrates and the Commissioners as the Bow Street Runners continued their existence.

Attempted assassination of King William IV

Sir Richard BIRNIE, Chief Magistrate, died.

Capital punishment for forgery abolished (Last execution in 1829).

First stage Carriage Act.

Last two men gibbeted (William JOBLING and James COOK).

Dissection of murderers' bodies made optional (abolished 1861).

Parliamentary Commission set up to enquire into rioting.

Apr

Cholera outbreak in London

1833

Parliamentary Committee on Police as Spies. Popay Case. (Police Officer William POPAY (Wt No 6778) accused of ‘spying’ - working in plain clothes)

Parliament agreed to part of police cost being borne by the Exchequer.

Station Officers deprived of power to dismiss drunks.

The Lighting and Watching Act - parishes empowered to elect inspectors and appoint watchmen

Jan

The London Fire Engine Establishment formed

May 13

Coldbath Fields Riots (Grays Inn Road)) A major crowd disturbance was dealt with by the Metropolitan Police with controversial use of force. PC Robert CULLEY, 95 ‘C’ Division (Wt No 1044), stabbed to death at this event and the jury returned a verdict of Justifiable Homicide.

1834

The Select Committee designated with the task of enquiring into the state of the Police of the Metropolis reported that ‘the Metropolitan Police Force, as respects its influence in repressing crime and the security it has given persons and property, is one of the most valuable modern institutions’.

 Bow Street officers still investigating cases, Henry Goddard being called to investigate a fore in Oare, Wiltshire.   Mr Richardson's murder in Surrey investigated by both Metropolitan Police and Bow Street.

Hansom Patent Safety Cab introduced.

Poor Law Act created united workhouses

During hot summer - Cholera and Typhus outbreak killed 5 police officers

Alfred Swaine Taylor appointed Professor of Medical Jurisprudence at Guy's Hospital

Hanging in chains abolished

Central Criminal Court Act.

Destruction of both Houses of Parliament by fire

1835

Uniform: Sergeants issued with a new Armlet containing two narrow blue and three wide white stripes worn on the right arm

Highway Act - Introduced Rule of the Road (Section 78 - that carriages and animals shall be driven on the left or near side of the road) and Furious Driving.

 Bow Street's Henry Goddard solves firearms case in Southampton by comparing ammunition made from the same mould

Reform Act

Gas installations at Police Stations

Municipal Corporations Act - Established Borough Police Forces.

Metropolitan Police Officers sent to provinces to deal with riots against Poor Law.

The Municipal Corporations Act required every Borough to appoint a watch committee with a duty of maintaining a police force.

Oct

A fire broke out at the Millbank Penitentiary and 400 Metropolitan Police officers and a detachment of Guards were called  to restore order. This prompted the press to call for the police to be put in command at all large fires.

1836

The Bow Street Horse Patrol placed under authority of Commissioners of Police.

James Greenacre convicted of the murder of Hannah Brown

Royal Commission on Police (1836 - 38).

Counsel for prisoner accused of felony first permitted to address jury on behalf of prisoner.

Feb

London’s first railway open between Spa Rd, Bermondsey and Deptford.

Sep

Blackheath Road Police Station opened (R Division)

Oct

Bow St Horse Patrol attached to the Metropolitan Police

Dec

London and Greenwich Railway extended to London Bridge

1837

Queen Victoria succeeded William IV.

Select Committee appointed to look into the affairs of the police offices. They also proposed that the City of London be placed under the control of the Metropolitan Police.

Sergeant Charles Otway assists Uxbridge magistrates with the murder of John Brill, an early example of assistance with investigations outside London

July

London and Birmingham Railway opened from Euston Square to Boxmoor.

1838

Select Committee reported and recommended incorporating the Marine Police and the Bow Street Runners into the Metropolitan Police and the disbandment of the Bow Street Office and other offices. These were all agreed and put into effect.