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

Westminster, 1720-39 15

This uniqueness has been retained by the City of London up to the present

day; it maintains a police force separate from the Metropolitan Police.^49

After the failure of the Night Watch Bill of January 1720, the conllict

between the Burgesses and the vestries and magistrates over the night

watch continued. The Middlesex justices took it

upon themselves freely to remove from office Constables whom the Court

of Burgesses had appointed; to audit the accounts of Scavengers, and to

punish them for neglect of duty; and to insist that the Constables for

Westminster, like those for other parts of the County, should make regular

presentments to Petty and Quarter Sessions.^50

On 3 September 1720, Applebee's Weekly Journal reported

the Vestrys of the several Wards within the City and Liberty of Westmin-

ster have had a Meeting, concerning a Regulation of the Nightly Watch;

and they have agreed to make an addition, and to employ none but Men of

known Ability, whose Diligence, as well as Pay, is to be doubled. 51

The vestries and the justices were thus still carrying on their challenge to the
Court of Burgesses for control of the night watch of Westminster.
In response, the Burgesses attempted to bring their constables and watch-
men under better regulation. Adhering to the amateur tradition, in 1724 the
Burgesses expressly ordered that no one would be allowed to hire a sub-
stitute to serve the office of constable. 52 They fined those who refused to pay
the watch rate or provide a watchman. John Thompson was fined lOs. for
'refusing to Watch and Ward and for not paying the Rate assessed on him
toward defraying ye Charge thereof; Th the Evill Example of others ... '. The
Burgesses also fined various constables and beadles for neglect of duty and
insolent behaviour.^53 However, their efforts did not seem to improve the
situation enough to satisfy some.
In December 1726, Lord Arran, the Lord High Steward for Westminster,
sent a lengthy letter to the Burgesses laying out some improvements he and
the Dean and Chapter of Westminster Abbey wanted to see in how the Court
carried out its business. These included an annual accounting of funds
collected by the Burgesses and written summonses for those called up for
the office of constable. Lord Arran also ordered that

Th prevent Misbehaviour in the Watchmen, and that they may be better

distinguished do you for the future require every Watchman to wear a

Brass Badge on the Outside of his Watchman's Coat ... with a particular

Number thereon ....^54