be given their place. They were an important element in the array of options for
dealing with crime and social disorder in the eighteenth century. They helped
to shape the way policing ideas and practices changed over time. They influ-
enced public attitudes towards policing, and helped to draw the authorities in
London into the policing business. The connections between thief-takers and
constables in particular brought their activities within an official world and
expanded the reach of the state. They were a crucial element in the policing of
Georgian London.
Crime and the State 423