1900

PC 240 ‘H’ Division Ernest THOMPSON  (Wt No 76476) stabbed in the neck by a man whom he had moved after a street disturbance in Whitechapel.

Construction of a new floating police station at Waterloo Pier.

Lord BELPER Committee enquired into the best possible system of identification of criminals.   Edward Henry demonstrates his system for retrieving specific fingerprint patterns from a mass collection.

May 18

Mafeking night.

Dec 31

Rent Aid allowance granted.

1901

First police photographer employed

Strength of Force 15,508, Population 6,554,449.

Telephone exchange installed at New Scotland Yard

Uniform: Imperial Crown Buttons

Flag-pole fell at hoisting of black flag at execution of H. J. BENNETT

Jan

Death of Queen Victoria, Edward VII acceded the throne.

May 31

Edward HENRY appointed Assistant Commissioner.

July 1

The Fingerprint Branch commenced operation after the findings of the BELPER Report. Anthropometric measurements under the Bertillon system were still used but began to decline in importance.

Aug

The coronation of King Edward VII made major demands on the police, resulting in 512 police pensioners being recalled for duty. Extra pay, leave and a medal was granted to all serving officers.

End of Boer War.

Detective Training School established

Photographic Branch established

Nov

P/Sgt 16 ‘R’ Neil MacDougal fatally shot at Police Revolver Championships at Eltham

1902

Jun

District Underground Railway extended from Whitchapel to Bromley-by-Bow to connect with the London, Tilbury and Southend Line

Aug

Coronation of Edward VII and Queen Alexandra - deferred from June because of illness. Police pensioners re-engaged to form temporary ‘O’ or ‘Z’ Divisions

Sep 13

Fingerprint evidence first used at the Old Bailey against Harry JACKSON for burglary.

Dec

Women prisoners cease to be incarcerated within Brixton House of Correction, which would now house male prisoners only

1903

Last steam train on underground.

Metropolitan Streets Act

11,500 horse cabs (7,500 hansoms; 4,000 4-wheelers).

Motor car Act - speed limit 20 m.p.h. - Drivers to be licensed.

First petrol cab licensed.

Private telephone lines installed between Divisions and Commissioner’s Office.

Sergeants introduced on Thames Division (Police Order 29 September 1903)

Two cars purchased for Commissioner and Receiver

Jan

Fire at Colney Hatch - 52 women killed.

Jan

Third Class Inspectors re-designated Sergeants

Mar 4

Commissioner, Sir Edward BRADFORD retired - Succeeded by Sir Edward HENRY.

Apr

Public Carriage Office refuse to license first experimental Petrol-electric Fischer (USA) omnibus

Apr 7

George CHAPMAN executed.

May

First London County Council electric tram line opened between Westminster Bridge and Clapham by Prince of Wales

Jun

Explosion at Woolwich, 16 killed.

Dec 11

First petrol cab licensed.

1904

Motor Cars (Use and Construction) order.

Replacement of horse-buses by motor buses on a large scale.

Royal Commission on Traffic.

Proper method of instruction for police candidates introduced.

Six new stations built at East Ham, Hackney, John Street, Muswell Hill, North Woolwich and Tower Hill. One was near completion and two other started. Major works took place at twenty-three other stations.

Adolf BECK's second wrongful conviction for fraud on identification and handwriting evidence (see 1895).   The real perpretrator  is arrested whilst Beck is in prison after the Trial Judge delayed sentence because of lingering personal doubts about the case.   The Court of Criminal Appeal is established in 1907 as a result.

Jan

Number plates and licences issued, under the Motor Car (Registration and Licensing) Order 1903

Aug

London’s first municipal crematorium opened in Aldersbrook Rod, E12

Dec

North Woolwich Police Station opens

1905

First militant suffragettes.

Aliens Act - Secretary of State given power to deport.

May

Fingerprint evidence first given in murder trial in England (Albert and Alfred STRATTON).

An article in Police Review mentioned that PC William HALLETT of ‘Y’ Division, who had retired after twenty-six years as a mounted officer, had ridden 144,000 miles or more than 5 times around the world in the course of his duty.

Building of Scotland House commenced - completed in 1907

Public telephone lines to New Scotland Yard finally installed (previously tried in 1881)

1906

Madame D’ANGELEY Case (wrongful arrest and perjury).

Royal Commission on Metropolitan Police 1906 - 08

Metropolitan Police officers at this time were on duty for 13 days a fortnight and had an annual leave of 10 days

Two despatch vans - 6 hp, vertical engine, single cylinder, Siddeley

Jan

East Greenwich Police Station opens

Great Northern, Piccadilly & Brompton ‘Tube’ opened between Hammersmith and Finsbury Park.

Feb

LCC opens Kingsway Subway

Feb

Hoxton Police Station renamed Old Street

Mar

Bakerloo Underground Railway opened - Baker Street - Kennington Road (Lambeth North)

Oct

Hampton and Notting Hill Police Stations opens

1907

Scotland House completed

Two Stores delivery Vans - 10hp Adams-Hewitt.

Telephones exchanges installed at all police stations

Church and Sexton convicted for being drunk and disorderly. Action against police. Convicted for perjury.

Taximeters made compulsory on motor cabs.

Privilege cabs at railway station abolished.

Feb 13

Clash between the police and 800 Suffragettes outside the House of Commons. Mounted and Foot officers were used to disperse them and allegations of brutality were made.

Mar 25

Horse Van Dispatch service between New Scotland Yard and Divisions replaced by motor vans

June

Charing Cross to Golders Green/Highate Underground Railway opened

Sept

Camden Town Murder - discovered in Agar Grove (Emily Dimmock)

Oct

Peel House Training School, Regency Street, established

1908

Suffragettes.

Under 16s exempt from Capital Punishment

Port of London Authority formed.

Olympic Games at White City.

Prevention of Crimes Act.

Winslow Boy Case (George Archer SHEE)

Royal Commission on Metropolitan Police.