Before the Bobbies. The Night Watch and Police Reform in Metropolitan London, 1720-1830

The War W!ars, 1793-1815 97

sailors of various Countries with very many Lascars and Chinese, whose

residence here, draws a concourse of the lowest order of prostitutes; their

indecent language, and general bad character, render the Streets almost

impassable by day, and extremely dangerous at night. It is not within the

compass of our efforts to restrain these evils, the cause of which can only be

removed by the wisdom and the power of Government [Emphasis added];

And we most sincerely hope that the Magistrates of the Shadwell Police,

will represent our case, and obtain for us that assistance which altho'

absolutely necessary for the preservation of the lives and property of the

Inhabitants cannot be provided out of the parochial funds, without a very

distressing increase of the Rates. s1.

In Soho, the vestry ordered four watchmen to patrol the parish between

sunset and the time that the rest of the watch came on duty. Watchmen's

beats were redrawn so each man had fewer houses to watch and wages

increased to attract better men. In February, patrols were issued firearms

and cutlasses.^82 In many places, the night watch was augmented by inhabit-

ants' patrols. The Times noted:

We hear with great satisfaction, that the inhabitants of many parishes of

the metropolis, and in its neighbourhood, have not only set about a strict

examination and reform of the system of nightly watch, but have also

resolved upon, and in several instances carried into effect, a patrole

under their own superintendence, and with their own attendance in rota-

tion: a mode, certainly the most eligible in every point of view, from the

knowledge which such individuals must have of their immediate vicinity,

from the deep interest they must feel in the preservation of the public

peace and individual security, and from its conformity to the princTies

and practice that are inbred with the habits of our free constitution.^8

The Home Office was deluged with complaints about the night watch and
suggestions for reform.^84 In January, Richard Ryder, the Home Secretary,
proposed a parliamentary inquiry into the state of the night watch. Ryder's
motion, debated on 18 January 1812, was very limited. He only wanted to
examine the state of the night watch, not 'the police', which would have
meant examining the various Bow Street establishments and the activities of
the police magistrates, as well as the night watch system.^85 Ryder, in his
opening remarks, referred to the Westminster Night Watch Act of 1774 as a
precedent and said he hoped to find ways to better enforce regulations like
these, already in the statute books.^86
Sir Samuel Romilly wanted more than an inquiry into the night watch.
Romilly fought long to reform the criminal law, especially to reduce the
number of capital crimes.^87 Romilly used the word 'police' in two different
ways in this debate in 1812, reminiscent of Patrick Colquhoun's ambiguity.