Police were only allowed to use truncheons until the 1940’s when revolvers were introduced to inspectors. The crime fighting techniques the force mostly used gained them a reputation for violence, a good example of this is when in 1868 a baton charge at Bromley resulted in a seventy eight year old man being trampled to death.
The Metropolitan Police force was not the only police force in London, up until 1839 a force called The Bow Street Runners was in existence and their horseback branch then went on to become the Metropolitan Police Force’s mounted section.
It became very dangerous for policeman in poorer parts of London as there were frequent attacks on them because the less wealthy people believed the police were only there to protect those with power and wealth, and they were the ones who were singled out by the police. Therefore it was not rare for attacks and murders towards the police around these areas of London such as the East End.
In 1842 the first detectives were appointed by the Metropolitan Police Force, this consisted of two inspectors and six sergeants. The introduction of detectives concerned the public as these policemen in plain clothes could not be identified; the Home Office was also in the belief that they would become too friendly with criminals and become corrupt. In 1877 three out of four inspectors in the Detective Department were found to be guilty of corruption.
In 1878 improvements were made when the Criminal Intelligence Department (CID) was set up. In 1879 new instructions for dealing with murder cases were put in place, however they were still fewer detectives in London than there were in other major cities.
While police were out on the beat there was a great emphasis on personal appearance and good behaviour and some forces required officers to attend church on Sunday’s, not to be seen out with women and wear their uniform at all times, even when they were off duty. The average day for a constable could be up to fourteen hours and this was seven days a week. In London in the 1870’s and 1880’s a beat during the day was on average seven and a half miles, and at night it was two miles.
Police work in the 1880’s was still mainly consisting of prevention of crime by officers on the beat, but this was still not enough to stop some of the more serious criminals who could literally get away with murder.
