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

(Jacob Rumans) #1
Westminster, 1720-39 11

Westminster. In addition, it was more the rule than the exception that those
who sat as JPs for Westminster also were on the county bench.^29 In the early
eighteenth century, key West End vestries became dominated by aristocrats
and the politically powerful, who were often justices as well. The vestry room
served as a courtroom for the justices of Piccadilly, just as vestrymen doubled
as magistrates.^30
In the 1720s and 1730s, these vestries and the Middlesex justices worked to
undermine the Burgesses, wanting greater control of local administration.
The Burgesses attempted to keep the authority they had in the face of a
challenge from opponents with considerably superior political and social
clout. Additionally, in the 1690s an effort to clamp down on vice and Sab-
bath-breaking known as the campaign for the reformation of manners was
spearheaded by private societies and zealous magistrates. The Burgesses did
not always share the zeal of reforming magistrates, creating another source of
friction. The conflict about crime, vice, and who controlled the night watch
formed part of a power struggle among these competing authorities.^31 The
way in which this dispute was resolved also shows the way in which Parliament
was used by local constituencies as a resource and arena to settle conflicts.
In January 1720, the Justices of the Peace for Middlesex told the House of
Commons that they were alarmed because 'Several Persons of Quality ...
have been lately, and in an unusual manner, attacked in their Coaches and
Chairs, and some of them robbed, in the high Streets; and yet none of the
Persons concerned in these Robberies have been taken ... .n The magistrates
attributed this to 'the Want of a proper and regular Watch'. They argued
the Constables ... appoint what Persons and what Number of Watchmen
they think fit; and raise and levy great Sums on the Inhabitants, under the
Pretence of paying them [the watch], without rendering any account there-
unto; and yet the Watch, so kept, is found not to be sufficient ....^33
A bill, 'An Act for the appointing a Nightly Watch, and regulating the
Beadles, in ... England' proposed that control of the night watch and beadles
in all parishes be given to the Justices of the Peace?^4 1\vo or more JPs would
determine the details of the operation of the night watch in each parish,
including the number of watchmen, their hours, beats, arms, and wages?^5
The high constable and parish constables were to provide nightly 'Inspection
and Controll' of the night watch.
Ultimate authority, however, would be in the hands of the justices of the
peace. Every three months the justices were to check that a sufficient watch
was being kept and that all officers were diligent in their duties. They could
also issue any orders felt necessary, keeping a record of any orders in each
parish in a book which would be available for the inhabitants, who could
'from time to time and at all reasonable times resort to and peruse [it] without
fee or Reward ... '. 1\vo JPs were given the authority to decide what amount

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