This isn’t about policing in the old days. It’s about me. Or more specifically, my old high-school newspaper, the Evanstonian, in the late 1980s. I was just cleaning house (which, admittedly, is a rare activity) and stumbled across my old bound collection of Evanstonians. Sara Agahi (nee Rubin), my former student editor (before I became…
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Don’t worry, the Department has your back! Yeah, right. No Police Constable shall take proceedings at law or by indictment for an assault upon himself, unless he has previously obtained leave in writing from the Commissioners. The Superintendents will in each case inquire into the circumstances, and report their opinion upon it to the Commissioners.…
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[old pics always taken from Shorpy]
After this date no Police Constable is permitted to apply for a warrant to apprehend any person for an assault upon him (the Constable) without first reporting the case to his Superintendent, and getting his permission in writing to make such application. Source: Metropolitan Police. Instructions Orders &c. &c.1836. London: W. Clowes & Sons. [I’m…
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Paperwork: The Superindendents of division will always in future, during Sessions, send into this office a list of the names and numbers of the men who are obliged to attend the Sessions the follow day, and a Serjeant will always take care to be sufficiently early at the Session-house, and each man will report to…
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The Constables are not, in any instance, to ask for a Christmas-box from any of the inhabitants upon their beats; if any money is offered to them as a Christmas-box they must report the circumstances to their superior officer, who will ask permission from the Commissioners for them to receive it as in other cases.…
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Sick days and line-of-duty injury. The Secretary of State for the Home Department has directed that, in future when a Police Constable is certified sick by the surgeon, from that day till he is again certified by the surgeon fit for duty, “a deduction of 1s. shall be made from his pay each day.” In…
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In Dublin, these neighborhoods with their uniform rowhomes remind me of Baltimore. The grittiness of Dublin was a bit of a refreshing shock after the pastoral beauty of rural Hampshire. Even though I have nothing but nice things to say about the English, in Ireland I felt like I was back on home ground. From…
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The Commissioners wish to remind the constables that, in every case when it is judged necessary to dismiss any man, the whole of his pay accruing from the last pay-day will be forfeited. Source: Metropolitan Police. Instructions Orders &c. &c.1836. London: W. Clowes & Sons. [I’m on break. Regular blogging will resume in February.]
The paperwork begins. Some instances of rudeness on the part of individuals of the Police towards persons asking them civil questions have been reported to the Commissioners of the Police. the Commissions therefore call upon the Superintendents to instruct their officers and men. The Superintendents will receive a book of instructions for every man and…
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