76 Before the Bobbieshowever, the failure of police refonn in London.^122 As Ruth Paley notes,
even those who opposed the 1785 Bill 'went out of their way to reiterate their
support for a more limited measure'.^123
The importance of local experience and support is evident when one
contrasts the failure of the 1785 bill with the success of another government
refonn effort, the creation of the Thames River Police. As will be discussed
below, the 1792 Middlesex Justices Act created seven 'Police Offices', gov-
ernment-funded establishments of stipendiaty magistrates. In 1800, an addi-
tional Police Office was set up in Wapping, including three stipendiary
magistrates and up to thirty Thames River Police Surveyors. The surveyors
supervised the work of constables, whose number varied depending on the
funds available. These men patrolled the river and the docks. Although
the River Police were an innovation, they did not duplicate the function of
the parochial night watch.^124
The origins of the River Police illustrates the importance of rising amounts
of everyday property crime as a motivating factor for refonn and the import-
ance of local input and sponsorship. A 'Marine Police' was initially created
and funded in 1798 by the West India merchants to rescue the 'Port of
London from the great injury and disgrace which has arisen from the
enonnous Pillage and Plunder which heretofore prevailed'.^125 The 'Marine
Police or Preventative Department' was staffed by a chief clerk and cashier, a
superintendent, four surveyors to visit ships, five surveyors to patrol the
river, 18 watennen to assist the surveyors, a surveyor for quays and 32
other guards and assistant surveyors. These men spent their time patrolling
the river, docks, and shore areas in order to prevent and detect thefts from
ships and warehouses. The West India merchants paid most of the operating
expenses, estimated at £5000 a year.^126
After two years of successful operation, the government was persuaded to
take over the operation of the Marine Police in 1800, in spite of the opposi-
tion of the City of London. Refonners Patrick Colquhoun and Jeremy
Bentham lobbied for the act, lZ7 but the role played by the merchants in
sponsoring the initial experiment and supporting the 1800 legislation must
have been of greater importance. The following unanimously supported the
extension of the Marine Police to the entire port and putting it under
government control: East India Company, West India merchants, Russia
merchants, Mediterranean traders, Thrkey merchants, Canada traders, Uni-
ted States traders, and shipowners. They passed resolutions and sent a
deputation to the Duke of Portland, the Home Secretary, urging government
sponsorship of the Marine Police.^128 These were men with considerable
clout.
The Thames River Police Act succeeded because it was all the things the
1785 Police Bill was not. This act was based on a successful local innovation
and addressed the needs and interests of those who were most affected, in