78 Before the BobbiesThrnpike trusts also continued to expand their jurisdictions and policing
powers. In 1801, the West India merchants put their influence behind the
creation of a turnpike from the City to the West India Docks in the Isle of
Dogs which enjoyed the power to light and watch the highway.^135 In 1806,
this trust also took over the maintenance, lighting, and watching of the roads
leading to the East India Docks.^136 Outlying parishes also joined in, illus-
trating the continued strength of the migration theory. Clapham petitioned
the House of Commons in 1785 for a lighting and watching Act because it
was now 'large and populous, and from their Vicinity to the Metropolis, the
inhabitants thereof, and also all Persons passing to and from the same in the
Night-Time are much exposed to Robberies and other Outrages'.^137
In areas with well-established watch systems, the public debate about
crime and complaints from residents impressed watch authorities enough
for them to review the night watch carefully. The basic structure of con-
stables, beadles, and watchmen was mandated by law and not to be tinkered
with lightly. There was room for change and some watch committees worked
hard to respond to the pressure for improved policing. They tried not to
spend too much money and still increase the certainty and comprehensive-
ness of crime prevention and detection.
The simplest way to increase the surveillance capacity of the watch was to
increase the number of men on duty at night. In 1785, St Marylebone hired
an additional sergeant and 13 more watchman because of complaints from
parishioners about burglaries and street robberies, and watchmen's beats
were shortened.^138 Local forces were expanded to police new streets or
increasingly crowded old ones. The trustees of St Luke's, Old Street,
resolved in 1790 that 'by reason of the Great number of New Houses in
and near Chiswell Street and the City Road an additional Watchman is
necessary' _139
Many parishes also expanded the hours the watch was on duty. Most night
watches went on the streets at ten or eleven at night.^140 Residents com-
plained, however, about crimes committed before the watch was set, espe-
cially in the dark evenings of winter. In March 1783, the St Marylebone
watch committee responded to several complaints about robberies by order-
ing:
That the Sergeants of the Watch do Patrole the Streets within each of their
Divisions Armed from Seven till Ten of the Clock at Night taking to their
Assistance a Supernumerary Man each who are to be also Armed with
Staves and Rattles.This early patrol was ordered to 'Cry the Word Patrole distinctly ... in every
Street and Place they shall go through in Order that the Inhabitants may
have the Satisfaction of knowing that those Men are Doing their Duty'.^141
This temporary measure later became a permanent fixture every winter.^142