A Treatise on the Police of the Metropolis Part 44

10. Hawkers and Pedlars.

11. p.a.w.n Brokers.

12. Dealers in Horses.

N.B. The new Revenues are Estimated to yield .64,000 The increase of the existing Revenues is stated at 19,467 -------- .83,467 --------]

2d. To raise a moderate Revenue for Police purposes from the persons who shall be thus controlled, by means of Licence Duties, and otherwise so modified as not to operate as a material burden; while a confident hope is entertained, that the amount of this revenue will go a considerable length in relieving the finances of the country, of the expences at present incurred for objects of Police, and that, in the effect of the general System, a considerable saving will arise, in consequence of the expected diminution of crimes, particularly as the chief part of the expence appears to arise after delinquents are convicted.[171]

[Footnote 171: The amount of the general expence of the Criminal Police of the Kingdom as stated by the Committee on Finance in their 28th Report is as follows:

1st. The annual average of the total expence of the Seven Public Offices in the Metropolis, from the inst.i.tution in August 1792 to the end of the year 1797, being a period of 5-1/2 years .18,281 18 6

2d. The total expence of the Office at Bow-street, in the year 1797, including remunerations to the Magistrates in lieu of fees, perquisites, and special services, and the expence of the patrole of 68 persons 7,901 7 7 ------------- Total expence for the Metropolis 26,183 6 1

3d. The money paid to the several Sheriffs for the conviction of Felons in 1797 9,650 0 0

4th. The expence of maintaining Convicts on board the Hulks, (exclusive of 415 under Sentence of Transportation in the different gaols), amounted in 1797 to .32,080 0 0

5th. The expences incurred in the employment of Convicts by the Navy and Ordnance Boards, probably amounting to not less than from 10_l._ to 20_l._ per Man per annum, were by computation 1,498 14 10-1/4

6th. The annual average of cloathing, victualling, and transporting Convicts, and of the Civil, Military, and Marine Departments of New South Wales, and Norfolk Island, from 1786 to 1797 86,457 12 11-1/2 ---------------- 120,036 7 9-3/4 ----------------- 155,869 13 10-3/4 To which add the farther sums annually charged on the County Rates, or incurred in places having peculiar Jurisdiction in England 50,000 0 0

Borne by the Sheriffs in England 10,000 0 0 60,000 0 0 ----------------- ----------------- Total for all England 215,869 13 10-3/4]

By the consolidation of the two Boards of Hackney Coaches, and Hawkers and Pedlars, the functions of the Commissioners will become very extensive and laborious, since in addition to the inspection and control of the different suspicious trades proposed to be licenced, it will be useful to the Public, and, indeed, the System will be incomplete, unless they not only keep constantly in their view the general Calendar of delinquency; but also carry into effect such plans as, on mature deliberation, and (many will unquestionably be found practicable), shall, in a great measure, prevent the terror--dangers--losses and inconveniences which arise from foot-pad and highway robberies, burglaries, and other atrocious offences, which are so prevalent in and near the Metropolis at present.--This duty will naturally attach to the Central Board, and which the Commissioners, (from the accurate information their situation will enable them to procure, and the Civil Force they may have at their disposal,) will be well qualified to execute with advantage to the Community; and while competent pecuniary resources will arise from the Licence Duties imposed, aided by legislative regulations, applicable to this, and other objects tending to the general prevention of Crimes, blame may fairly be imputed wherever a considerable degree of success is not manifest, by the gradual diminution of the more atrocious, as well as the minor offences.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons having stated it as their opinion, that the principle upon which the plan which has been brought under their review is founded, "_if liable to no error; and that supposing it faithfully executed it gives the fairest prospect of success_:" the Public will naturally become anxious for an enjoyment of the benefits which may be expected to result from its adoption.

As its leading feature is the security of the _rights of the innocent_, with respect to their Life, Property, and Convenience, the measures of this board must, in a peculiar degree, be directed with prudence and discretion to this particular object. This will be effected not only by increasing the difficulty of perpetrating offences, through a control over those Trades by which they are facilitated and promoted, but also by adding to the risk of detection, by a more prompt and certain mode of discovery wherever crimes are committed. Thus must the idle and profligate be compelled to a.s.sist the State, by resorting to habits of industry, while the more incorrigible delinquents will be intimidated and deterred from pursuing a course of turpitude and criminality, which the energy of the Police will render too hazardous and unprofitable to be followed up as a trade; and the regular accession of numbers to recruit and strengthen the hordes of criminal delinquents, who at present afflict Society, will be in a great measure prevented.

These objects (in the opinion of the Select Committee) are to be attained by the establishment of a _Central Board of Police Revenue_; the views of the Members of which should be directed to the means of adding "Security to the Person and Property of the peaceful Subject; the Morals of the People, and the general Finances of the Country; by those powers of action which are likely to operate most beneficially towards the prevention of Crimes."

To accomplish these purposes it would seem, (after mature deliberation), to be necessary not only to extend the Licensing System over the whole Kingdom; but also to form _a chain of connection_ between the Central Board, and every district of the Country, with a view as well to a more effectual Control ever those suspicious Traders, who are to become immediate objects of attention on the part of the Police, as to establish a more correct and certain mode of collecting the proposed Revenue.

This chain of connection would appear to be only attainable through the medium of Select local Magistrates,[172] to whom a certain degree of responsibility would attach, and who by means of Stationary Surveyors, (being Constables), appointed by themselves, and under their immediate Control, would be enabled to superintend the collection of the Licence Duties, and in a particular manner to inspect into, and regulate the general Police of the District, while in conjunction with other Justices in the division, they granted the Annual Licences to the different Dealers upon the same plan which is at present pursued with respect to Alehouses.

[Footnote 172: It is presumed, that the distinction of _Select Magistrates_, joined to the patronage arising from the appointment of inferior Officers of Police in the respective Districts of the Country, (as Surveyors and Collectors of Licence Duties), would be considered as a sufficient inducement to men of Property, talents, and respectability, to undertake this very honourable Trust: to which it may reasonably be hoped, that many would be stimulated, in a particular degree, by the impulses of patriotism, and a desire to introduce a correct and improved System of Police in their respective Districts.]

From this general rule, however, on account of the peculiar situation of the Metropolis, a deviation might be necessary and useful to the Public. It would, therefore, seem that the Dealers resident within a certain distance round the Metropolis, should receive their Licences from the Central Board, and be immediately under its control.--The advantages resulting from this arrangement are obvious.--The chief part of the Receivers, and Criminal Dealers, who contribute in so great a degree to the increase and concealment of the numerous offences, which are committed in and near the Metropolis, require that the superintendance should not be divided, but that it should be confined entirely to the Board, where all intelligence is supposed to center; and whose peculiar duty it will be to watch the progress of Crimes in all their ramifications, and to adopt measures for preventing the growing corruption of Morals, by which every species of delinquency is generated.

For the purpose therefore of compa.s.sing this and every other object in the view of the Select Committee, it is suggested that the proposed Board should be authorized to exercise the following

FUNCTIONS:

I. To manage that branch of the Police which relates to Hackney Coaches and Chairs.--To enforce strictly the laws now in being for the better ordering this system so necessary to the comfort and convenience of the Metropolis.--To obtain new powers (where wanting) to compel a greater degree of cleanliness and security, with respect to these vehicles.--To banish, if possible, from the fraternity those criminal characters denominated _Flash Coachmen_, and to secure civility, and prevent imposition.--For this last purpose a department should be continued, as at present, (a part of the Inst.i.tution,) having a concurrent jurisdiction with other Magistrates, for the purpose of hearing and determining disputes between Coachmen and the Public.

II. To execute the laws relative to Hawkers and Pedlars.--To regulate and improve the System respecting this suspicious cla.s.s of Dealers, and more effectually to extend the control over them by means of the Select Magistrates in each District of the Country where they travel, for the purpose of more narrowly watching their conduct.

III. To grant Licenses in the Town District (_i.e._ within the limits of the Penny-Post, while the Select and other Justices grant similar Licences in the Country;) under the authority of the proposed general Police Bill, to the following Traders, and others,[173] viz.

[Footnote 173: Nothing can exceed the pains and labour which have been bestowed in settling the description of the persons, proposed to be licenced, with a view to an accurate system of Legislation. A regard to this accuracy made it necessary to abandon [Transcriber's Note: blank in original; probably 'two'] cla.s.ses recommended by the proposer to the Select Committee; because on attempting to frame a Bill, it was found impracticable in one case, and impolitic in another, to apply Legislative rules that would not either be defeated or invade the privileges of innocence.[J]]

[Footnote J: Persons keeping Crucibles, and Auctioneers.]

1st. Purchasers of second-hand, and other Household goods, for Sale.

2d. Wholesale purchasers of Rags, and unserviceable Cordage, for Sale to Paper-makers.

3d. Retail Purchasers of Rags, and unserviceable Cordage, for Sale to Paper-makers.

4th. Purchasers of second-hand Apparel, made-up Piece-Goods, and Remnants for Sale.

5th. Walking or Itinerant Purchasers of second-hand Apparel, made-up Piece-goods, and Remnants for Sale.

6th. Purchasers of second-hand Naval Stores, for Sale.

7th. Wholesale Purchasers of second-hand Metals, for Sale.

8th. Retail Purchasers of second-hand Metals, of persons in general, for working up.

9th. Every Worker of second-hand Metals purchasing the same, from persons in general, and not from Licensed Dealers.

10th. Purchasers of second-hand Building Materials for Sale.

11th. Persons keeping Draught-Carts for second-hand goods, purchased for Sale.

12th. Persons keeping Hand or Truck Carts for second-hand goods, purchased for Sale.

13th. Sellers of Unredeemed Pledges, otherwise than by Auction: and also to control and inspect the conduct of these dealers, so as if possible to confine them to the innocent part of their Trades; and to collect and receive the respective Licence Duties.[174]

[Footnote 174: If Twine Spinners and Rope Spinners of a certain cla.s.s could be brought under similar regulations, it would prove extremely beneficial, inasmuch as the small Manufacturers in this line are known to give considerable facilities to the Stealers of Hemp on the River Thames.--A number of small Rope and Twine Manufacturers have undersold the fair trader, by working up Stolen Hemp, purchased at half price; and it is but too evident from discoveries which have recently been made, that this evil has gone to a very great extent, and that considerable benefits would be derived to the Public, by placing _Twine and White Rope Spinners_ under the control of the Police, at least within the proposed District of the Metropolis.]

IV. To grant Licences also in like manner to other Traders, which are already under some degree of Legislative regulations; (but which require a more efficient Control), provided it shall be thought expedient by the Legislature to transfer these branches to the proposed Board, as requiring in a particular degree the superintendance of the Policy System, viz.

1st. p.a.w.nbrokers in Town and Country.

2d. Persons keeping Slaughtering-houses for Horses, and other Animals, not for the food of Man.

3d. Dealers in Horses, and persons hiring, keeping at Livery, and transferring Horses from hand to hand, with a view to establish a check against Highway Robberies, and to defeat those subtle tricks which prevail in the Sale of Horses.

And also to collect the Licence and other Duties, (which might, in respect to the transfer of Horses, be rendered extremely productive without being felt as a burden), and to inspect the conduct of these cla.s.ses with a view to the prevention of Frauds, and other offences.

V. To grant Licences in like manner to all persons (except those employed in his Majesty's Mints), who shall erect or set up any cutting Engine for cutting round Blanks by the force of a Screw; or any Stamping Press, Fly, Rolling Mill, or other instrument for Stamping, flatting, or marking Metals, or Bank Notes; or which, with the a.s.sistance of any Matrix, Stamp, Die, or Plate, will stamp Coins or Notes--so as to prevent the enormous evils constantly experienced by the Coinage of Base Money, and the counterfeiting of Bank Notes:--A System whereby the criminal part of ingenious Artists could be kept under the immediate view of the Police, is so obvious in a Commercial Country, as to require no elucidation. And the measure is the more desirable, as the reputable part of the Artists and Manufacturers who have occasion to keep Presses for innocent and useful purposes, have no objection to such regulations.[175]

[Footnote 175: See the Chapter on the subject of Base Coin, in this _Treatise_; and the remedies ultimately proposed for suppressing this enormous evil.--The Author has great satisfaction in stating that a Bill is now nearly prepared, grounded chiefly on his suggestions, for improving the Coinage Laws; and that sanguine hopes are entertained of its pa.s.sing during the present Session of Parliament.--The proposition now made of bringing this feature of Police, so far as relates to _Presses_, and other _Machinery_, under the inspection of the proposed _Central Board_, will certainly have a powerful effect in deterring evil-minded persons from following the Trade of Coiners of Base Money, or Engravers and Stampers of forged Bank Notes.--In this kind of Control, the Police Revenue Board would have an advantage arising from the nature of the System, which may be considered as _invaluable in a national point of view_, since no part of the Country, however remote, could be said to be out of their reach, as Officers, under their immediate direction, would be found every where.]

VI. These Commissioners, after deducting the necessary expences, should pay into the Exchequer weekly, through the medium of a Receiver, the whole Revenues collected by them for Police purposes; and it is to be hoped, notwithstanding the very low Rates of the Licence Duties proposed, that, _including the Horse Police_, the aggregate Collection would go very far towards easing the resources of the Country of the expence of what the Select Committee of the House of Commons denominate, _a very inefficient System of Police_.[176]