MANCHESTER BOROUGH POLICE FORCE FOURTH PART JAN 1847 - DEC 1848

Meeting 7th January 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

***Charles Brett was the first Manchester Policeman to be murdered whilst on duty in 1867. He death occurred during the attack on the the police van by the Fenians. See here.

POLICE LIBRARY

Resolved

That a library be established for the advantage of the the Police Officers and Constables of the Police Force the expense to be defrayed out of the Fine Fund and by private contribution.

Meeting 21^st January 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Thomas Greenwood, Joseph Hulmes, John Eyles, Thomas Whittaker Gleave, Richard Grundy and Thomas Downing.

Memorandum

Letter for Mr Ralph Lomas, proprietor of Hackney Carriages, dated 20th inst, complaining of non interference of the two police Constables who were requested to assist him in obtaining a fare from a party who refused to pay, and requesting information whether or not Police are authorised to interfere in such cases.

Resolved

That the above letter be acknowledge and the same referred to the Town Clerk to answer the enquiry.

Meeting 28^th January 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Thomas McNulty Richard Jebb John Woodley Charles Barker.

Nuisances

Memorandum

Extract from the minutes of the Nuisance Committee's proceedings 20^th inst.

That with the assistance now rendered by the Police in this Department, it appears unnecessary to this Committee to retain more than four Nuisance Inspectors as a permanent staff, one for each of the Nuisance Divisions.

Meeting 4^th February 1847

Resolved

That under the directions of the Chief Constable the offices of Superintendents Leary and Taylor be furnished with a few chairs and the floors covered with matting.

Resolved

That under the directions of the Clothing sub Committee tenders be obtained and orders given for the supply of clothing for the Police Force to be issued on the 1^st May next.

Meeting 11^th February 1847

Memorandum

Extract from the minutes of the Public Parks Committee proceedings on 5^th February inst.

That the Watch Committee be requested to swear in as Constables the park keepers at each of the parks in accordance with the recommendations of this Committee, approved of and adopted by the Council on 22^nd September last.

Resolved

The the park keepers be directed to attend the next meeting of this Committee, for the purpose of being sworn in as Police Constables.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Edward Bookcock, William Armison, Robert Mills, William Tarbuck, John Vernon, Charles Spedding, Zadock Tonge and William Wood.

Meeting 18^th February 1847

Memorandum

The following parties being employed at the two parks:

Queen's Park ; James McBain, Samuel Rees, George Twigge, Joseph Whittaker.

Philips' Park; Jeremiah Harrison, John Davies, John, Chadwick, Rowland Winterbottom appeared before the Committee and were sworn in as Constables.

Resolved

That William Hayes having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed Police Constable.

Meeting 4^th March 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables:

George Jervis Mansfield, William Kennedy, John Olive, John Jackson, William Pease.

Meeting 11^th February 1847

Resolved

That Police Constable Patrick Stewart having discharged the duty of Coroner's Officer to the satisfaction of the Chief Constable, is hereby appointed the rank of Sub-Inspector at the wages of 25/- per week.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable is hereby authorised to dispose of by public auction the unclaimed and forfeited property now in the Police Stores.

Meeting 18^th March 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: Michael Berry, Thomas Smith and Benjamin Gibson.

Memorandum

The Chairman of the Public Parks Committee applied on behalf of that committee for the assistance of two Police Constables at each of the parks on Saturday afternoons and Sundays for a few weeks, and also on Wednesday next the public feast day.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be authorised to give further assistance at the public parks during the Saturday afternoons and Sundays, and on any pubic holidays.

Criminal and Statistical Returns Report by Chief Constable

In presenting the Police Returns for the year 1846, I have much pleasure in being able to give a satisfactory report of the diminution and prevention of crime and offences of a disorderly character within the Borough as well as of the improved and I may add continually improving conduct and efficiency of the Police.

In regard to the number of cases of felony sent for trial to the Sessions and the Assizes during the year, (and which are generally considered to be the cases indicating the amount of crimes) it is remarkable that the largest number of committals should have occurred during the most prosperous period of the year, thereby showing how uncertain is the operation of those causes which have often been assigned as influencing the increase or decrease of offences.

It will be seen from the following table that during the past year the greatest numbers of persons was committed for trial prior to the Sessions holden in February, that the number of committals diminished materially until the Sessions held in January in the present year notwithstanding the period from October to January last was one of great distress and privation to the poorer classes , and from January to February 1846, a time of comparative prosperity.

The same results also appear in considering the number of Assize cases. It will be seen that seventeen cases were sent from the Borough for trial at the Assizes held in March, - 25 at the Assizes held in August, - and only 5 at the Assizes which took place in December last.

It thus appears that to both the Sessions and Assizes we have had fewer persons committed for trial during periods of extreme distress than during the early portion of the past year. At the recent Sessions held in January last although the case were not so numerous as at the Sessions in February 1846; again showing how difficult it is to account for the fluctuations seen in the amount of crime.

The number of apprehensions during the past year has been less by upwards of 2000 than in the year 1845, and about 6000 less than the years 1841 and 1842. From the first foundations of the Police Force in 1839 up to year 1842 the number of apprehensions had been continually and considerably on the increase, whilst from that period and up to the present time the number has been constantly diminishing. Considering that the population of the Borough has during the same period been rapidly increasing to an amount to about 300,000 persons, being as increase since the Census of 1841 of about 64,000 persons, it is certainly a remarkable fact that there should have been so great a reduction in the number of apprehensions. It may possibly be urged with some reason that the good state of trade which existed during the years 1843, 1844 and 1845, together with an improved state of education among the poorer classes has contributed in some degree to diminish crime , and as the necessary consequence , the number of apprehensions. I feel however convinced that it is not to any such causes that we must refer the great reduction which has already and is still annually taking place.

The returns now presented will show that during the latter portion of the past year, and especially during the last three months when trade has been exceedingly expressed and great privations have had to be borne by the working classes in consequence not only of the shortness of work and consequent diminutions of wages, but also the high price of all sorts of provisions, the apprehensions have been fewer than they have been during any three months since the Police Force was first established in the year 1839, and during the same period the Borough has been in as quiet a state and freer from every description of crime than it has ever been known, or shown to have been by any Police returns which have been published.

I am aware that the testimony in favour of the Police from one so deeply interested in the efficiency, character, and welfare of the body to which he is attached may and ought to be received with caution, but referring with confidence to the returns which I have the honour to present in support of my opinions. I will venture to assign asa reason for the great reduction in the number of apprehensions the improved state of efficiency of the Police which has mainly resulted from the great care and zeal shown by all the Officers in instructing and controlling the Police in the exercise of their powers. Attention has has been specially drawn to this subject in consequence of the great power which the Borough Police Act has conferred upon the Constables.

Acting upon the principle that the power of apprehension for many offences has been given to Constables in order to ensure that offending parties shall be brought before a Justice it has been deemed expedient to instruct the Constables in all cases of trivial offences (of which there are a large class) and when the offences have been apparently committed through thoughtlessness or neglect to take the name of the offenders and to summon them before the Court instead of taking them into custody , when in default of finding bail they would have to be locked up. It has also been an instruction to the Constables in cases of disputes and quarrels between the inhabitants, and when actual fighting has not been resorted to, or a breach of the peace committed rather to attempt a reconciliation between the parties than to resort to the exercise of their legal powers.

By adopting such a conciliatory course of conduct many unnecessary apprehensions have been prevented, order has been established and maintained and a better and more kindly feeling has been induced without any compromise of duty between the inhabitants and the Police Force.

The system of having superior and intelligent officers always on duty at the stations has also had a most beneficial effect in deterring the Constables from making apprehensions without proper caution and discernment, as they are aware that such Officers are held responsible for strictly enquiring into the nature of every charge before any person is placed in confinement.

The Constables also being all able to read and write and generally better educated than was formerly the case has also contributed materially to the advancement of good order and the attainment and maintenance of a higher moral feeling and consequently to greater discrimination in the performance of their duties throughout the Force.

The class of offences which have been most on the decrease during the year are larcenies from the person and other thefts of a miscellaneous character, gambling, drunken and disorderly cases, vagrancy by reputed thieves and suspicious characters loitering about to commit felonies, and assaults on the Police. There has been an increase in common assaults, bigamy, desertion from the army (more deserters have been apprehended than in former years), and also a slight increase in attempts to break into dwelling houses and warehouses although the actual number of burglaries committed there has been a corresponding decrease. These particulars will be seen either in Table No 1 or in Table 16 [not reproduced here] which gives a comparative statement of the number of apprehensions which have been made according to the offences which been annually committed from the commencement of the year 1840 to the termination of the year 1846.

As respects the discharges and summary convictions, a reference to Table 24 will show that the proportion of discharges to the number of apprehensions has been considerably less in former years, and the summary convictions and committals for trial proportionally greater thereby affording the best possible evidence that discretion and judgement have been exhibited both by the Police Constable in apprehending and the officers in charge of the stations in receiving the charges.

It will be observed in referring to the Table No 7 that more than one half of the persons who been apprehended during the year are stated to have been out of work. As however this return shows the gross number of apprehensions including individuals who have been several times taken in custody and who are generally out of work will not be quite so great as appears in the return, as the separate apprehensions swell the numbers.

Table No 9 shows that the most numerous class of offenders are between the age of 20 and 25 years; the next between 25 years and 30 years; and the third between 15 and 20 years of age; here is also a class of juvenile offenders amounting to about 300 in number whose ages average from 10 to 15 years and against one of this number and another young person of about 17 years of age the most serious charge that occurred during the year, viz, that of murder was preferred.

As regards to the degree of instruction of the person who have been committed for trial and convicted, it will be seen on reference to Table 14, that out of 527 persons so circumstanced 210 could neither read and write, 285 were only able to read and write imperfectly, 28 could read and write well and 4 were of superior education. The information contained in this return has been obtained from the prison calendars and may be relied upon for its correctness, as the education of all prisoners is specially enquired into by the chaplain of the prison.

Table 17 refers to the number of apprehensions which have been made in each in each month for seven successive years, and it will be observed in the same Table that the tuber of persons who have been taken into custody during the summer months is greater than during the winter months when it is supposed by many that more offences take place.

The next table to which I would draw your attention to, numbered 19 contains a return of all the felonies, where money or any property of any description has been stolen; which have been reported to the Police, or of which they have received information together with a statement of the time or period of day or night when the felonies were ascertained to have been committed. This return shows that between the hours of 6 o'clock in the morning and 5 o'clock in the afternoon, being the period when the smallest number of Constables are on duty, the greatest number of felonies have occurred.; that between the hours of 5 o'clock in the afternoon and 9 o'clock at night when the number of Police on duty is considerably increased the number of felonies is considerably diminished, and that between the hours of 9 o'clock at night and 6 o'clock in the morning when the greatest number of the Police are on duty the smallest number of felonies has been committed, or if the periods or day and night duty are taken respectively, viz, from 6 o'clock in the morning until 9 o'clock at night , and from 9 o'clock at night until 6 o'clock in the morning when the Police Force is nearly distributed in the proportion of one third for day and two thirds for night duty, the amount of property stolen during each period will appear to be in proportion to the protection afforded, viz, £2 stolen by day, and £1 by night.

Although these results tend to show that in proportion to the amount of protection or numbers of the Police on duty whether by day or night, and the offences more or less numerous, this cannot be advanced as an argument for the number of men for day duty to the number which are on night duty, as the facilities which are afforded by day for the commission of a numerous class of felonies are much greater than by night and the felonies are frequently of a character beyond the control of the Police. The purloining of goods from a warehouse and shops by parties employed therin are offences which only could be effected by day when the goods or property are exposed, and the opportunity afforded to persons so employed to secrete them, and in such cases and others of a similar character the Police however vigilant could scarcely be expected to prevent the offences being committed, although they might possibly in some instances apprehend the parties when taking the property away under suspicious circumstances.

The total amount of money and property which has been reported to have been stolen during the year appears by the same return to have been about £10,040 being upwards of £3,000 less than was stolen in the previous year, and the sum recovered by the Police upwards of £,6,700 being a large proportion of the amount stolen. The return further shows that rather more than £3,000 which had been accidentally lost by the public has been recovered by the Police and restored to the owners.

In regard to the robberies which have been committed on Sundays during absence of the occupiers of the houses, the returns will show that there has been a considerable decrease both in the number of offences as well as in the amount which has been stolen, as compared with any previous year.

The only remaining tables having reference to the criminal portion of the returns to which it appears necessary to refer, are tables 24, 18 and 21.

The first of these tables gives a statistical account or history of all the prisoners who have been sentenced to transportation during the year, stating their respective age s, the number of times that each has been in custody, the number of times they have been severally been summarily punished under the Vagrant Act or committed for trial, with the period of punishment to which they have been sentenced either by the Magistrates or by the Courts of Session or Assizes prior to their final sentence of transportation.

The second table states in what districts or wards of the Borough the prisoners have been apprehended by the officers of each Division of the Police Force respectively with the results of their several cases.

In regard to the miscellaneous returns it affords me much pleasure to be enabled to state that like the Criminal Returns they will bear favourable comparison with those of the preceding year.

The first Table numbered will show that during the year 2798 premises were found insecure by night; of these 1583 consisted of Warehouse and Lookup Shops containing property in which no person resided and which might and very probably would have been robbed but for the attention of the Police; 800 more consisted of warehouse and shops containing property in which persons did reside which were also liable to be robbed, as the inmates have usually retired to rest prior to the Constables finding premises insecure.

The Returns further show that 4265 children have been reported by their parents or guardians to have been lost in the streets, of whom 2099wre found by the Police and the remainder by their own friends; also that the large sum of £1595

had been taken from persons found drunk in the streets and restored to them when sober, the greater portion of which amount would probably have been stolen but for the care taken of such parties by the Constables.

The next table which relates to the fires which have occurred within the Borough, shows that there has been a decrease of 23 in the number as compared with the previous year and that the amount of property which has been destroyed and which is valued at £23,000 has been less by upward of £33,000 than the sum stated to have been lost in last years return.

The total number of fires has amounted to 114 of which 34 have been extinguished by the Engines and the Firemen, 4 by the Police and Firemen without Engines, 20 by the Police alone, 33 by the Police and neighbours, and 23 by the inhabitants.

The return relating to the complaints have been made against publicans also bears a very satisfactory comparison with the return of the previous year; the complaints being as 114 to 227 or rather less than half, and the amount of penalties as £70 to £174 or about £104 less than the sum stated to have been inflicted as penalties for misconduct in the previous year. It is satisfactory also to observe by the same return that out of 487 public houses which were licensed within the Borough, no reports have been made against 396 of such houses.

The Beer-house returns also shows a considerable improvement in the conduct of the Landlords of this class of houses, as there have been 75 fewer reports as well as a considerable decrease in the amount of penalties inflicted by the Magistrates as compared with the previous year. This return also shows that out of the gross number 1089 Beer-houses 772 have never been reported. The returns show that both as respect to Public Houses and Beer-houses the complaints are chiefly against one class of houses.

With respects to the Table relating to brothels, low-lodgings &c and the class of person who reside therein and over whom it is desirable that the Police should keep a strict watch, it will not be necessary to remark further than to state that the system which has been adopted of classifying and keeping a continually corrected register of the proprietors as well as of the people who inhabit the houses, has tended very materially to check disorder and to aid the Police in detecting crime and bringing offenders to justice.

There are several other tables relating to the administration of the duties of the Police and the preservation of order in the Town amongst the miscellaneous returns to which satisfactory reference might be made, both as to the mode in which the duties have been performed, as also to the result of the cases, but as these will be fully enumerated in the index and can easily be referred to, it will not I think be necessary for me to notice them further in this report.

In referring to the table relating to the steps taken for the abatement of the Smoke Nuisance, I should wish to state, that the Officer who has had to attend to this duty has invariably found that on the part of the Masters of Works great anxiety for the success of the measures adopted to suppress the nuisance, and had in all cases been assured of their willingness to meet the wishes of the Corporation. Many of such parties have gone to very considerable expense in making alterations and improvements in their fireplaces and chimneys &c, and it has been most gratifying to witness the desire exhibited to render the exertions of the Corporation to lessen the nuisance as far as possible successful. That such exertions have not been lost, and that the Town is much freer from smoke than formerly will be I think generally admitted.

The only remaining tables which it may be necessary to notice are those relating to the population increase of buildings, and the conduct of Constables. As regards to the first it will be seen that the population of the Municipal Borough of Manchester is computed to about 300,000persons. The number has been ascertained in the same manner as last year, viz, by taking the average number for each inhabited house or cellar according to the rate represented to exist in each Police Division which gives a general average for the whole Borough of about 5.9 persons to each inhabited house and 4.5 to each inhabited cellar The public institutions have been taken at the same number. The total number of dwelling houses within the Borough is 47,323, and of dwelling cellars 4,838; of the former 845 were uninhabited when taking the return and of the latter 295; many however of the uninhabited dwelling houses were new house which had never been tenanted. The number of new dwelling houses which have been erected during the the year is 1627 and there were also 408 more in the course of erection when the return was taken.

As respects the conduct of the Officers and Constables and the working of the Police Establishment it affords me great pleasure to have it in my power to state that the returns for the present year exhibit a very marked improvement in the general behaviour of the Force, and I feel assured that it will be satisfactory to the Committee to be informed that the beneficial measures which have been adopted to promote good order and to create a greater attachment to the service by the establishment of a class of merit at an increased rate of wages, and the foundation of a fund for the relief of those who might be injured or worn out in the service, have aided very materially in producing the good results now recorded.

The Committee will be glad to learn that from the Merit Class consisting of 123 Constables , there has not been one single dismissal and only five punishments by reduction in rank, that fourteen members of this body have promoted to the rank of sub Inspector, and three recommended for for other situations upon the application of parties requiring to be supplied with efficient men. Of the class of ordinary Constables consisting of 248 persons, 50 have been promoted to the Merit Class been placed on the Superannuated List , and 22 have been dismissed.

Of the Sub Inspector consisting of 45 persons, 5 have been promoted to the rank of Inspector, one has been recommended for situations and only one has been dismissed.

The total number of dismissals during the year from the regular Police Force consisting of 447 persons has been 24 whilst in the preceding year it amounted to 48, and in the year 1844, to 99, and in both instances with a Force of much smaller numbers.

It will be thus seen there has been a continual and progressive improvement taking place in the conduct of the Force, and although much may be ascribed to the system and good regulations which have been adopted, and to the great zeal and ability of the Superintendents, still there can be no doubt whatever that the measures which have been sanctioned by the Committee and the determination ever exhibited to allow no offence to pass unpunished have been largely instrumental in inducing good behaviour on part of the Force. I confidently expect that the establishment of a library and a reading room at each of the principal stations as contemplated will materially aid in increasing the good results which have already been obtained and will tend to improve the intellectual attainment of the men, and to make them better qualified for higher situations either in the Police Force or in private life.

In concluding this report it may perhaps be considered necessary that I should refer to the annual expenditure of the Force which I am happy to inform the Committee will be less by upwards of £200 than the sum name in the estimate as likely to be required. The actual expense that has been incurred from the first day of April last to the present time in pay, salaries and contingencies, including the purchase of the new capes, has amounted to £21,180 and the sum which be required to meet the pay, salaries, contingencies from the present up to the end of April including the cost of new clothing and hats, which is being contracted for, can be accurately calculated and will amount to £4,420 making the total expense for the Force for the year amount to £25,600 being rather more than £200 under estimate which was £25,821.

The Police Force including all ranks at present number 469 person, but when the estimate was prepared the number only amounted to 435 persons. Arrangements had however prior to the estimate being prepared to increase the number of the Force to 469 persons on the 1^st October last and therefore provision was made 435 person for the first 5 months of the year, and for 469 persons for the next 7 months of the year.

The average number of persons who have continually employed throughout the year will amount to 455 persons, and the cost per head on expenditure of £25,000 to £56 5s 4d which is the lowest average cost per head in any year since the Force has been under the control of the Watch Committee, and less by upward of £15 15s 0d per head than was the average when the Force was under the charge of the Government Commissioner.

As a comparison between the two periods will more prominently show the economy which has been observed since the Police Force has been under the control of the Watch Committee I may mention that the annual cost of the Police Force when under the Commissioner amounted to £23,622, the average number employed to328 persons at a cost per head to £72 0s 5d whilst the expense of the Police Force under the Watch Committee during the present year will amount to £25,600 the average numbers employed to 455 person and the cost per head to £56 5s 4d. It thus appears that with an expenditure of only £1978 more than that of the Commissioner, 127 additional men have been employed by the committee, although the annual cost of 127 men calculated at the average expense of £56 5s 4d per head would amount to £7112, and if calculated at the rate of £72 0s 5d per head which was the average expense per head of the Police the under control of the Commissioner to the sum of £9146.

The above facts will I think satisfactorily prove that great care has been taken to economise so far as possible the expenditure of this Department.

I have only to add in conclusion that the Borough is in a peaceful and quiet state and although much distress prevails, and many persons are out of employ the offences and apprehensions are fewer than they were at the corresponding period last year. The Police are performing their duties in vigilant and efficient manner, and in a way that is not less creditable to themselves, than it is beneficial to the public.

Edward Willis

Chief Constable

Resolved

That 500 copies of the Report of the Chief Constable and of the statistical returns submitted therewith be printed under the directions of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman.

Meeting 25^th March 1847

Resolved

That John Evans having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Police Constable.

Meeting 1^st April 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough.

Resolved

That the following Sub Inspectors having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Inspectors at the wages of 30/- per week; Henry Keenan and John Beatty.

Resolved

That the following Police Constables having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Sub Inspectors at the wages of 25/- per week.

Meeting 8^th April 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: William Burgess and William Broomhead.

Meeting 15^th April 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Meeting 22^nd April 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

George Grundy Brien, Patrick McAdam and Alexander Finley.

Meeting 29^th April 1847

Resolved

That the following allowances be made during the ensuing year to the parties employed in the E Detective Division of the Force in lieu of new uniforms which they will not require during that period, their present uniforms being in good condition from having generally to perform duty in private clothing:

Inspectors Mullins, Maybury, Buckley and Sub Inspector Moran @ 7/6 per month;

Constables Duckworth, Bowes and Lowcock @ 6/2 per month;

such allowances amounting together to the sum of £8 5s 3d the actual cost of uniforms.

Resolved

That the following Police Constables having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed sub Inspectors at the wages of 25/- per week:

B23 George Pearson and C39 William Hatton.

Resolved

That the Clerk of the Manchester District County Court be informed that the attendance of Police Constables of the Borough on Court Days cannot be allowed in future unless the payment hitherto made for such attendance at the Court of Request be continued.

Resolved

That as the business of the Nuisance Committee is now performed by Officers appointed and paid by that Committee with the exception of the duties connected with the prevention of smoke now performed by Inspector Fox, the Nuisance committee be requested to make arrangements for providing an Office for that Department, and to relieve the Watch Committee from the expense at present incurred by them in relation to such duties.

Meeting 6^th May 1847

Lodging House Regulation and Cleansing of

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the Council's proceedings on the 5^th May inst was read out.

That the Watch Committee be and hereby empowered to execute and perform all or any of the matters or purposes in relation to the inspection , approval, regulations and cleaning of Lodging Houses, which the Council are in and by 79^th and following Sections up to and including the 83^rd Section or any of them of the 8^th and 9^th Victoria Cap 141 ( The Manchester Sanitary Improvement Act) authorised and empowered to do, execute and perform, and for the purposes aforesaid, such committee shall have all the powers, authorities and discretions which in by and by the said sections or any of them are given to and reposed in the Council.

Memorandum

The following extract from the Minutes of the proceedings of the Building and Sanitary Regulations Committee was read out.

That the report of the Medical Officers of the Hulme District to the Guardians of the Chorlton Union now read be transmitted to the Watch Committee.

That a copy of so much of the report presented by the Superintendent now read which relates to the Lodging Houses and houses sublet in apartments together with Tables 1 and 2 referred to therein be transmitted to the Watch Committee

Memorandum

The documents referred to in the preceding extract were submitted and handed to the Chief Constable with the report of the Medical Officer of the Chorlton Union.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be and he is hereby appointed and authorised to fix and determine the numbers of lodgers to be accommodated in any Lodging House within the Borough and to make and issue such rules and regulations in relation to the health, cleanliness and ventilation of such Lodging Houses within the Borough, and to cause a Register to be kept of the number of lodgers authorised to be recited therein.

Resolved

That William Gifford having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed Inspector at the wages of 30/- per week in place of Rowe resigned.

Meeting 13^th May 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Meeting 20^th May 1847

Memorandum

The following report by the chief Constable was read out.

The Chief Constable begs to submit for the information of the Committee the undermentioned particulars of the duties which have been performed by the Police in carrying into effect the Sanitary measures directed by the Committee.

In the first instance the occupiers of all lodging Houses for the poorer classes were served with a printed notice detailing the powers which are granted to the Council by the Sanitary Regulation Act and the Police Act for the purposes of promoting cleanliness in Lodging Houses.

As the serving of these notices together with the duties which had to be performed by the Police in the examination of the apartments was considered to entails some risk to the Officers in consequence of the prevalence of Fever in many of these places, the Chief Constable thought it advisable to appoint no particular Officers to undertake the duty, but informed such as might be inclined to volunteer their services that he would recommend to the Committee that an allowance of five shillings per week should be granted to them in addition to their usual weekly wage. Two officers in each Division immediately volunteered to take the duty, and they have already visited a large portion of the Borough, and their reports confirm the account destitution and sickness prevail to a considerable extent.

An arrangement has been made with the Guardians of the Poor that all cases of Fever which may be reported by the Police shall be removed, and in many instances the Guardians have removed such case which have been reported by the Police, but in some instances they unfortunately have not been able to do so, owing to the fever being full, the Police however have taken prompt measures to disinfect and cleanse such places as were found in a dirty and unhealthy state, and for the more speedy performance of this duty the Chief Constable allowed the Superintendents in their several Divisions to engage three labourers to accompany the Sanitary Officers for the purposes of whitewashing and cleansing the houses.

In some instances the owners of the Lodgings on receiving the printed notices caused their Lodgings to be whitewashed and cleansed, but in many instances they omitted with the directions contained in the notice pleading their inability from poverty.

Should the committee not be able to recover the expense which may [be] incurred, the Chief Constable thinks the money will be well spent as the increase of Fever will most probably be prevented or very much checked, and the health of the inhabitants very materially promoted.

The Chief Constable cannot concluded this report without naming to the Committee that destitution misery and illness exists to a very great extent, but is happy at the same time to announce that the Guardians have come to the resolution to cause the houses in which either destitution or sickness are reported by the Police to exist, to be visited by their own Officers for the purpose of affording relief.

Annexed is a table containing in tabular form the duty which has been performed by the Police in carrying out sanitary measures, and with the weekly estimates of pay for the Police Constables is submitted an account of the expense which has been incurred during the last fortnight in wages to the Sanitary Officers and labourers employed in whitewashing &c, and for lime, buckets and brushes which amounts to £ 13 1s 1d

Returns showing what steps have been taken by the Police in regard to Solitary measures, and the the number of cases of illness and destitution since the 6^th May instant.

204 cases of illness.

May 19^th 1847

Meeting 3^rd June 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Meeting 17^th June 1847

Memorandum

The following extract was read from the minutes of the proceedings of the Nuisance Committee on the 16^th June instant. “That the Watch Committee be respectfully requested to swear in the following Nuisance Inspectors as Constables of the Borough : Inspectors Ogden, Kay and Jenkins.”

Memorandum

The before mentioned Nuisance Inspectors attended and were sworn in as Constables of the Borough.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Memorandum

The following letter dated 9^th June inst from Mr George Ferneley was read out complaining of the conduct of Mr Sawley in causing the removal of his tenant Mrs Chester from the house no 31 Bridgewater Street.

Resolved

That the house No 31 Bridgewater Street being kept by the tenant Mary Ann Chester as a common Brothel and complained of by the inhabitants as a nuisance to the neighbourhood, Mr Ferneley be informed that Mr Sawley did no more than his duty in abating the nuisance complained of.

Meeting 24^th June 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: John Flannagan, John Marsland and John Garvey.

Meeting July 1^st 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Meeting 8^th July 1847

Resolved

That John Jones acting as a junior clerk be appointed senior clerk with the rank of Inspector, and be paid wages of 30/- per week with suitable clothing and allowances as an Inspector.

Resolved

That Police Constable Joseph Wood as acting as clerk to be appointed junior clerk with the rank of Sub Inspector , and be paid the wage of 25/- per week with clothing and boot money as allowed to Sub Inspectors.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: Joseph Dean, James Kennedy and Reuben Baxendale.

Town Hall Lockups and Stationary

The following report was read out:

The Chief Constable ventures again to remind the Watch Committee of the unhealthy and ill ventilated state of the Lockups and Police Offices under the Town Hall and would earnestly suggest that some alterations should be speedily made , as several of the Officers of the Police Force have been obliged to give up their situations in consequence of their health failing from the effects of these ill ventilated places, and others are complaining of their health suffering from the same cause.

Resolved

That a copy of the report of the Chief Constable now read be transmitted to the General Purposes Committee, with a request that they will as early as possible take steps for making the requisite alterations in the Town Hall to remedy the serious evils complained of in the above report and that the General Purposes Committee be requested to appoint a deputation to meet a deputation of this Committee for the purposes of conferring as to the best means of providing the required accommodation.

Meeting 15^th July 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Resolved

That the wages of James Shaw, clerk in the Detective Department be increased from 20/- per week to 25/- per week.

Meeting 29^th July 1847

Memorandum

The following communication from Mr A B Rowley, the Clerk to the Guardians of the Chorlton Union, was read out including the report of the Medical Officers for Chorlton upon Medlock in relation to the overcrowding of lodging houses in that locality.

Resolved

That the same be referred to the Chief Constable with instruction to take such proceedings in the cases referred to as are authorised by the Police Act; and that the Town Clerk informs Mr Rowley of the steps taken in reference to his communication.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: John Allen and John Shackleton.

Meeting 5^th August 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Meeting 12^th August 1847

Salaries

Resolved

That the salaries of Superintendents Taylor and Leary be and are hereby advanced from £150 to £180 a year – such increase to commence on 1^st September next.

Merit Class

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby promoted to the Merit Class:

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough:

Police Relief Fund – PC A Lee

Resolved

That upon consideration of the report this day made by the Chief Constable of the past services and present state of health and position of Police Constable B77 Abraham Lee the sum of 9/- per week (being half of his weekly pay) be paid to him on his retirement from the Force out of the Police Relief Fund, as a superannuation allowance.

Meeting 19^th August 1847

Lamp Breakages

Memorandum

The following extract from the minute of the proceedings of the Lamp &c Committee on the 17^th August inst was read out:

That for the purposes of lessening as much as possible the breakages and damages to street lamps, the Watch Committee

be requested to give directions to the Police when on duty in the streets, to prevent stone throwing, ball or cricket playing or any other game calculated to cause injury to the street lamps and also to make inquiries with the view of discovering the cause of any breakage and the names and addresses of the parties damaging the lamps.

That as an inducement to the Police Lamplighters or other parties to make enquiries and give information relative to breakages of lamps, the following scale of gratuities to be adopted, and be allowed in all cases where the damage to the lamp is paid for:

Resolved

That the extract be referred to the Chief Constable.

Resolved

That the Lamp &c Committee be informed that instruction in accordance with their resolution has been given to the Police, but that it is contrary to the rules of the Force, to allow Police Constables gratuities.

Meeting 26^th August 1847

Resolved

That John Marsden having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Constable of the Borough.

Meeting 2^nd September 1847

Merit Class

Resolved

That the following Constables having appeared before the Committee and there are hereby in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable promoted to the Merit Class: D24 Thomas Riley and D68 Samuel Gratrix.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: Joseph Thacker, Frederick Pendleton and Joseph Henton.

Meeting 7^th September 1847

Resolved

That James Thompson having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Constables of the Borough.

Memorandum

A letter dated September 9^th inst from Mr A Spier requesting the Committee to swear in as a Constable, the Apparitor of the Hebrew Synagogue Halliwell Street.

Resolved

That Mr A Spier be informed that his application cannot be complied with with as the Committee invariably decline to swear in any parties as Constable who are not immediately under their direction and control.

Meeting 16^th September 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: Samuel Gough, William Barker Casson and Arthur Parker.

Meeting 23^rd September1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables of the Borough: Royal Thomas, Thomas Bramhall and William Hilton

Meeting 30^th September 1847

Resolved

That this Committee having accepted with regret the resignation tendered by Mr Cochrane of the Office of Superintendent of the Borough Police, feel bound on his retirement to record their sense of the honourable, faithful and satisfactory manner in which for a period upwards of eight years, and since the establishment of the Police under the Corporation, he has discharged his duties of his Office so as to reflect great credit upon himself, and to be of advantage to not only to the Division under his immediate control, but to the whole of the Force, with which he has been so long associated.

That this Committee tender to Mr Cochrane their best wishes for his future prosperity. That a copy of this resolution be furnished to Mr Cochrane by the Town Council.

Meeting 14^th October 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: John Williamson, James Wood and Sampson Illingworth.

Meeting 21^st October 1847

Resolved

That John Richardson having appeared before the Committee is herby appointed a Police Constable.

Resolved

That Inspector William Saynor be and he is hereby appointed Superintendent of the C Division of the Police Force at the salary of £150 per annum.

Meeting 28^th October 1847

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the Lamp &c Committee's proceedings on the 26^th instant:

That the Watch Committee be informed that a considerable increase has lately taken place in the breakage of street lamps; and that they be respectfully requested to give such instructions to the Police Officers as may tend to remedy or lessen the evil.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be directed to call the attention of the Superintendents to the resolution of the Lamp &c Committee now read, and that that Committee be informed that attention will be given to their communication.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Samuel Peers and Charles Brown.

Meeting 4^th November 1847

Memorandum

Read application from Mr Isaac Gault for a payment of £500 on account of clothing supplied to the Police Force.

Resolved

That the account included in the following statement, having been examined and certified as correct on behalf of this Committee, and amounting to the sum of £500 be and is hereby approved of; and that a copy of this resolution and statement signed by the Chairman and two members of this Committee be transmitted to the Treasurer of the Borough, who is hereby instructed to lay the same, together with the account included therein, before the Financial Committee for payment.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Meeting 18^th November 1847

Resolved

That the Chairman plus three members be requested to consider and report as to the best mode of carrying into effect the resolution of the Watch Committee on 9^th January last relative to the establishment of a library and reading rooms for the benefit of the Police Officers and Constables.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable, Police Constable B74 William Ferguson be promoted to the Merit Class.

Meeting 25^th November 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Henry Wallace and Adam Percival

POLICE REFLIEF FUND

Resolved

That upon consideration of the report this day made by the Chief Constable of the past services and present state of health of Sub Inspector Darby Moran, E Division the sum of twenty five pounds be allowed and paid to him as a gratuity on his retirement from the Force, out of the Police Relief Fund.

Meeting 2^nd December 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Robert Dunn, Thomas Hudson and James Drew.

Meeting 9^th December 1847

Memorandum

The following letter was read out:

Manchester, December 8^th 1847

To the Watch Committee of the Town Council of the Borough of Manchester

Gentlemen,

I an directed by the Guardians of the Manchester Union to request that you will be pleased to allow Christopher Steele, Assistant Vagrant Officer of the Union to be sworn in as a Constable of the Borough of Manchester.

Jno Harrop

Clerk to the Guardians

Resolved

That the application of Mr Harrop be considered at the next meeting.

Meeting 16^th December 1847

Resolved

That again, the application of Mr Harrop be considered at the next meeting.

Meeting 23^rd December 1847

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Peter McMillan, Henry Berry and Jonathan Howarth.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be authorised to to dispose of the old worn out Police Clothing, and that the proceeds be paid into the Police Relief Fund.

Memorandum

The Chief Constable reported in reference to the letter of Mr John Mills referred to him, for enquiry at the last meeting, that Buckley Street, which Mr Mills stated was not properly watched, was visited once every forty five minutes by night, and once every half hour by day.

Resolved,

That a copy of he preceding report be transmitted to Mr John Mills, and also to the Lamp &c Committee.

Meeting 30^th December 1847

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the Lamp &c Committee's proceeding of 28^th December instant, were read out:

That the report now read from Inspector Fieldhouse relative to the conduct of Police Constable 91 C Division in the case of assault on himself on the 15^th December instant, be transmitted to the Watch Committee.

Resolved

That the report now read be referred to the Chief Constable, to enquire and report thereon.

Resolved

That Thomas Ancell having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Police Constable.

Meeting 6^th January 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Patrick Goss, Robert Spaven and John Bostock.

Memorandum

The Town Clerk reported that it is on public grounds desirable that the Assistant Vagrant Officer should be as requested by the Guardians of the Manchester Union duly sworn in to act as a Constable, as he is frequently required to seek out in different districts, and to apprehend when found, runaway husbands for neglecting to support their families; and in case the Vagrant Officer, who is generally personally acquainted with the individuals to be apprehended, was not authorised to act, it would be necessary to employ one of the Police Officers.

The Town Clerk recommended that the Vagrant Officer should be appointed and sworn in as a Constable, - and explained that the Watch Committee would by dismissal or striking the name of such party out of the list of Constables, in case of improper conduct being proved, deprive him of all power thereafter to act as a Constable.

Resolved

That the Town Clerk be authorised to state in reply to Mr Harrop's application on behalf of the Board of Guardians that if the Assistant Vagrant Officer be directed to attend at the next meeting of this Committee, he will be appointed and sworn in as a Constable.

Meeting 13^th January 1848

Memorandum

Christopher Steele Assistant Vagrant Officer for the Manchester Union appeared before the Committee, and was duly appointed and sworn to act as a Constable.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Constables: David Gill and Denis Murray.

Resolved

That Sub Inspector Thomas Dodson, D Division, having appeared before the Committee, be and is hereby appointed Inspector at the wages 30/- per week.

Meeting 20^th January 1848

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable the following Police Constables be promoted to the Merit Class: A15 Charles Harrison, 51 Francis Ogden and 72 John Marsland.

Meeting 27^th January 1849

Police Library

The following report was read out.

The Library sub Committee propose that the Library so far as regards the supply of books, periodicals, newspapers, pamphlets &c &c be established and maintained out of the proceeds of the Fine Fund and from other private sources without calling upon the Police to contribute any money towards its formation or support from their private funds.

That a general central depot be established at the Town Hall for the deposit of the books and that a room be granted and suitably fitted up for such purpose.

That a room be provided also at each of the principal Police Stations furnished with a table, forms, gaslight and fires as a reading room for the Constables.

That the expense of fitting up the room at the Town Hall as the depot for books as also the furnishing orf the rooms at the principal Police Stations for reading rooms executed at the public expense under the direction of the Watch Committee.

That a sub committee of the Watch Committee be denominated the “Library Committee” and consisting of the Chairman, deputy Chairman and three other members of the Committee be appointed annually for the purpose of approving and purchasing the books, periodicals, newspapers &c, and regulating such other matters connected with the Library as may be necessary.

That a fund be formed to be called The Police Library Fund into which such sums shall be paid as may be granted by the Watch Committee from time to time out of [the] Fine Fund for use of the Library as well as other monies which may be received from other sources for the same object.

That the Chief Constable be appointed Treasurer for the Library Fund to whom shall be entrusted the general management of the Library under the direction of the Library Committee.

That one of the clerks at the Town hall be appointed Librarian and that he be allowed such annual remuneration out of the Library Fund for the trouble which may be entailed on having the charge of the Library and the distribution and receiving back the books &c as the Committee may determine.

That a general register of all books, periodical, pamphlets &c kept by the Librarian as also all such other forms as may be necessary in working detail + as may be deemed expedient.

That catalogues of the books and different works belonging to the Library be furnished to each of the Divisions.

That members of the Force who may wish to have books to read be required to make their applications through their own Superintendent who will send a requisition for the books which may be wanted by the Division to the Librarian.

That register books of an approved form for the purpose of entering the names of the parties to whom books be issued as also for recording the state of repair in which the book was delivered out and received back from the reader be kept at each of the Divisions.

That members of the Force who may wish to have books to read be required to make their application through their own Superintendent, who will send a requisition for the books which may ne wanted by the Division to the Librarians.

That register books of an approved form for the purpose of entering the names of the parties to whom books be issued for recording the state of repair in which the book was delivered out and received back from the reader be kept at each of the Divisions.

That the time allowed for the possession of any work in each Division be limited to 14 days except in case where no other application from another Division for the same work has been made to the Librarian when the time may be extended, in all such cases a fresh application to be made to the Librarian for a renewal of time in order that regularity may be observed in in keeping the entries and in affording to each Division the opportunity of obtaining the work in regular rotation.

That the time allowed to each member of the Force for reading any book which he may either keep at the Station or take to his lodgings as he prefers be limited to 6 days.

That no member of the Force be allowed to lend any book to persons not belonging to the Police Force nor to ask for any book except for his own reading or that of his comrades conjointly, and that he return the same to his Superintendent to be delivered into the hands of the Librarian so soon as he has read the same even if it be before the expiration of the usual time allowed for reading the book.

That any member of the Force who may detain a book beyond the time allowed for reading the same be subject to ato the penalty of one penny per day for every day that he may keep the book beyond the regulated time, and that he be required in the event of wishing to have the book for a renewed period to render his name for the same in the usual manner and take his turn after the other applicants who may be on the list before him.

That no remarks be written in any of the books or publications , nor the corners of the leaves turned down, and that in the event of any damage being done to a book whilst in the charge of any member of the Force beyond what may be termed fair wear, he be required to pay the damage or renew the work.

That in the event of any book or other work being found damaged when returned to the Superintendent or Officer of the Division employed to receive and examine the same the person who has had the book or work be informed of the nature of the damage and of his liability to a charge for repair.

That a report of the damage with the name of the person in whose charge the book was placed when the damage took place be reported from the Division to the Librarian when delivering the book into the Library.

That one specified hour be appointed to suit the convenience of the Librarian in each day of the week for the purpose of transacting the business relating to the giving out and receiving books.

That the Superintendents of the several Divisions be required to see that the regulations for forwarding the periodicals and newspapers in the order which may be determined upon be properly carried into effect.

The sum at present on hand belonging to the Police Fine Fund amounts to upwards of £200 and the Sub Committee recommend that an amount of £100 be appropriated out of the Fine Fund for the purpose of forming a Library Fund and commencing the establishment of a Library.

The Sub Committee in conclusion is happy to inform the Watch Committee that the Editors of the different Manchester newspapers have most liberally offered to supply a copy of each publication of their respective papers gratis to the Police Force

Resolved

That the recommendations contained in the report now read be and are hereby adopted.

Resolved

That the Sub Committee now reporting be requested to further consider and report as to the number and description of newspapers and periodicals which it is desirable to provide for the Library, and generally upon the various details and arrangements required for carrying out their recommendations.

Meeting 10^th February 1848

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the proceedings of the Nuisance Committee on 9^th instant was read out:

That the attention of the Watch Committee be called to the great increase in the nuisances created in the streets and places enumerated in the list submitted by the Superintendent by the throwing of filth into the streets during the night time, and that the said Committee be respectfully be requested to instruct the Constables to notice and report to this Committee such cases of nuisances.

Resolved

That the extract and list now read be referred to the Chief Constable with instructions to direct the Constables on the beats in the localities stated to use vigilance in detecting and reporting all nuisances of the description referred to.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

 Meeting 24^th February 1848

Lockup Accommodation

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the General Purposes Committee on 4^th February:

That Mr Frederic Hill's letter to the Mayor relative to the Lockup Housed within the Borough of Manchester be transmitted to the Watch Committee.

Manchester, January 27^th 1849

Sir,

I beg to make the following recommendations arising from an inspection of the Lockup Houses and Police Cells in Manchester.

1 Instead of the allowance of food being indefinite as at present and depending in part on the varying cost of provisions and the liberality of the particular keeper, the quantity to be fixed at one pound and a half of bread daily and a pint and a half or milk or coffee , to be given in three separate meals of half a pound of bread and half a pint of coffee or milk each.

2 The means of washing to be provided at each Lockup House, and no prisoner be allowed to have any food, whether from the prison or his friends, until he has washed himself thoroughly.

3 A supply of rugs or blankets to be supplied at each Lockup House for such prisoners who remain through the night.

4 To prevent unnecessary mixture and contamination of prisoners, a van to be built, such as those in use in London and elsewhere, divided into smaller compartments, so that the prisoners may be kept individually separate.

5 The Chief Constable to be requested to present to the whole Watch Committee a quarterly report on the state of the lock-up houses with any suggestions which may occur to him for their improvement.

The foregoing recommendations are general. The following relate to particular lock-houses.

I - Police Cells under the Town Hall:

1 Gas to be introduced into cells, as already recommended by my predecessor, Captain Williams and to be so protected by a small iron frame that the prisoners cannot injure the jets.

2 The ventilation of two of the cells to be improved as explained on the spot to Mr Shorland, and in part suggested by him.

3 Some of the seats to be widened.

II- Police Cells under the Borough Court:

Gaslight to be so placed as to throw light into the cells.

III- Police Station in Oldham Road :

The light and ventilation of the cells to be improved in the way suggested by Captain Willis.

IV- Police Station in Cavendish Street :

The lighting to be improved as explained on the spot to Captain Willis.

V- Police Station in Gt Jackson Street:

These cells which are neither warmed or ventilated, to wholly discontinued; and until a new and better police station is provided, any person who is brought to this Station and who cannot be immediately conveyed to the Station in Cavendish St to be detained in the office,

VI- Police Station in Deansgate:

A strong pane of glass to be put into each of the shutters so as to allow of the shutters being closed in cold weather without the cells being made dark.

In the foregoing recommendations I have confined myself to such improvements as will be attended with small expense and will be productive, I hope, of immediate benefit – If they should be adopted, some of the lock-up houses would, I think, require but little farther change, especially considering the small number of prisoners committed to them, but in other cases, particularly those of the lock-up houses under the Town Hall and Borough Court, the cells even with the improvements suggested, will continue to be very unsuitable for their purposes.

The only effectual remedy in these latter cases, in my opinion, would be the erection of a new set of Police Cells on the land adjoining the Police Office at the Town Hall; and in order to avoid the necessity of having another range of Police Cells elsewhere and of removing prisoners from place to place, and with a view also to provide a more convenient and commodious Court for trial than the present Borough Court, I would strongly recommend that at the first suitable opportunity a new Borough Court be erected on the land adjoining the Town Hall, so the the Chief Police Officer, the chief place for the temporary detention of offenders and the Court in which most of the offenders are tried may all be together.

The plan which I would suggest in the construction of a new police prison would be to have a sufficient number of cells (very small ones would suffice) to allow of all the prisoners, under ordinary circumstances, being separate, with two or three large rooms for use when from any peculiar cause there was an unusual influx of prisoners.

When the foregoing recommendations have been considered I shall be obliged by your informing me in a letter addressed to me under cover to me the Secretary of State, what what resolutions are adopted respecting them.

Signed

Frederic Hill

[Prison Inspector]

Resolved

That Mr Hill's letter be referred to the Chief Constable with instructions to consider the suggestions contained therein, and report as to the propriety as well as practicability of carrying the same into effect.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Richard Larker and Abraham Dobson.

Meeting 9^th March 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: George Fox, John Driver and John Gee.

Memorandum

The following letter from Mr John Mills was read, complaining that Buckley St, Collyhurst and the immediate neighbourhood are not properly watched and that gambling is extensively practised in the locality on the Sundays.

Resolved

That the letter be referred to the Chief Constable with instruction to enquire and report thereon at the next meeting.

POLICE LIBRARY

Memorandum

The Library Sub-Committee having taken into consideration the subject of furnishing the Police Reading Rooms with newspapers and periodicals propose as follows:

That five copies of the London “Daily News”, which can be obtained on the afternoon of the day of publication at the reduced price of [ ??] per paper or at the rate of £4 per quarter for five papers, be taken in and that one paper be assigned to each Division of Police.

That the offers made by the proprietors of the different Manchester Newspapers to furnish one paper of each publication gratis for the benefit of the Police be accepted and that the said newspapers be distributed to the several Police Divisions changing every week the order of rotation so that each Division may have in success the different publications.

That no person be allowed to cut out any advertisement or others wise mutilate or damage any of the newspapers.

That no person be allowed to take any of the newspapers out of the Reading Room except under the authority of the Superintendent, or to remove the paper after it has been in the room the appropriate time.

That the time for keeping each London “Daily News” in the reading rooms be extended to three days, and that they be filed at the Division to which they belong, and in the event of any member of the Division wishing again to look at a paper the application for permission to do so to be made to the Superintendent.

That the several Manchester Newspapers after being retained at the Divisions for three days be transmitted to the Librarian at the Town Hall, as also the London “Daily News” belonging to the E Detective Division and that they be filed under his charge.

As respect periodical works the Sub-Committee are of the opinion that as the E Detective Division consists of only a small number of persons who can always have the advantage of reading such works when off duty in the reading room which is to be attached to the A Division at the Town Hall, and as it would be also unadvisable to allow books to be occupying the time of the Officers in the general Detective Office where much business is doing, it will not necessary to supply works of that kind specially for that Division.

The Sub-Committee therefore propose only to furnish periodicals to the stations that which have reading rooms and they recommend that four copies of each of the undermentioned monthly periodical works be taken in, and that one copy of each work be granted to each of the four Police Divisions: one Chamber's Monthly Journal; one Tait's Magazine and one Jerrold's Magazine.

That the regulations for preserving the periodicals in good order and free from damage as is established in regard to the books be enforced in regards to periodicals.

That no person be allowed to take any of the periodicals out of the reading room.

That the time fixed for retaining the periodicals in the reading room to one month until the receipt of the next month's ensuing publication.

That the periodicals after being being withdrawn from the reading rooms be filed at the Divisions to which they belong under the direction of the Superintendent who may lend out all such to be read under the same regulations as books.

The total annual cost of the periodicals will amount to £6 4s 0d and that of the newspapers to £16 which sum the Committee propose expending in the manner above recommended.

Resolved

That the report be adopted by this Committee.

Resolved

That the Town Clerk communicate to the proprietors of the several newspapers the thanks of this Committee for their offer to supply gratuitously a copy of their paper for the use of the Police Library.

Resolved

That it is desirable to appoint temporally and with as little delay as possible one hundred supernumerary Constables to act with the regular Police in case of need. [These men were used in the Chartist Riots]

Meeting 23^rd March 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

John Sumner, Thomas Smith, Thomas Ross and William Braddock.

Meeting 30^th March 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police constables: James Harriman, John Williamson, William Dean and George Moncrief.

Return showing the numbers of each rank and the pay and salaries of the Manchester Police Constabulary.

22 supernumeraries allowed to fill up vacancies occasioned through sickness absence and when employed are engaged at the salary of 17/- per week.

Contingent expenses allowed to the Chief Constable for house and cab hire &c £50.

Clothing allowed to the Superintendents .

Boot money at the rate of 2/- per month and clothing allowed to the other Officers and Constables of the Force.

Extra Supernumeraries

Memorandum

It was agreed that the Chief Constable might inform the extra Supernumeraries employed in consequence of the late disturbances that they would not be discharged from the services of the Committee without four weeks notice.

Meeting 6^th April 1848

Resolved

That the following Sub-Inspectors having appeared before this Committee are hereby appointed Inspectors at the wages of 30/- per week: William Chawkley + Thomas Whitney (A Division) and John Callender (B Division)

Resolved

That Police Constable 23 James Stewart of the C Division having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed Sub-Inspector at the wages of 25/- per week.

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable, Police Constable B52 William B Casson is hereby appointed to the Merit Class.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Leonard Allen, John Read, John Cookson and Samuel Stancliffe.

Police Relief Fund

The following letter to the Chief Constable was read out:

April 6^th 1848

Sir,

We the undersigned late Inspectors of the Manchester Police Force having been appointed Inspectors of Weights and Measures by the Mayor and Magistrates of this Borough, and having contributed a considerable length of time to the Police Relief Fund, most respectfully request that we may still retain our membership.

W H Rook

Joseph Sutton

Resolved

That in reply to the application now made, the Chief Constable be directed to inform Mr Rook and Mr Sutton that the Committee could not under the rules laid down with respect to the distribution of the Police Relief Fund sanction their continuance as participants in it after having left the Force.

Meeting 27^th April 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: William Cliff, Joseph Horsfield, Joseph Simpson and James Shaw.

Criminal Statistical Returns – Report by Chief Constable

It affords me much satisfaction to be enabled upon the expiration of a year marked by almost unexampled prostrations of the trade and commerce of the Country and consequent distress and privation amongst the working classes of this District to lay before the Watch Committee, returns which will bear a very advantageous comparison with those of previous years and which afford conclusive evidence not only that the Police have efficiently and creditably performed their duties but that the effect of better education and increased intelligence amongst the people has been to promote good order and to restrain person notwithstanding the severe suffering which they have endured, from the commission of crime. It is satisfactory to observe that, notwithstanding the temptation to disorder or crime which it may be supposed distress and privation would have afforded., the peace of this City has been in no year more eminently maintained than during the year 1847 and that whilst quietness and good order have been promoted and increased, the apprehensions on the part of the Police have in a corresponding manner decreased.

It will be seen on examination of the first criminal table that the number of apprehensions has been smaller in the past year by 1042 persons than in the previous year of 1846, and less by upward of 7200 persons than in the year 1842. I am aware that it may be suggested that the diminution in the number of apprehensions may have arisen from inefficiency or want of energy on the part of the Police, and from their having neglected to perform their duty for the purpose of improperly screening offenders, but when it is considered that the City has been maintained in a much more peaceable and orderly state than is known to have been the casein previous years and especially during the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 when the number of apprehensions was greatest,- and that the Police have received the approbation not only of the Justices, but frequently also of the inhabitants themselves for the firm and effective, but at the same time, kind and conciliatory manner in which they have discharged their duties and exercised their powers, I feel assured that it will be readily admitted that the decrease in the number of apprehensions is not in any degree attributable to remissness of want of energy on the part of the Police, but on the contrary, that it is entirely owing to the general improvement before referred to in the conduct of the Officers, and to the efficiency displaced by the Police in repressing disorder, and the intelligence, discrimination and discretion which they have exhibited in the exercise of the large powers vested in them to take into custody person who are supposed to have committed offences against the Law. As I have been informed that both prior to and during the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 , it has on occasions been considered necessary to arm the Police, and as the Returns also show that in the years referred to the assaults upon the Police were so numerous as necessarily to induce the impression that for reasons which cannot now be explained the best feeling of the part of the inhabitants towards the Police did not exist, it may be well to remark that since the close of the year 1842, such has been the peaceable state of the Borough , and so little serious has been the character of any disturbances which have arisen, that in no instance has it been deemed necessary that the Police should make use of any other weapon than the ordinary baton: and such has been the improved feeling manifested of the part of the inhabitants that the charges of assault during each successive year , have been of a much less aggravated and serious character, and have also very considerably reduced in number, and I am happy to state that it now seldom occurs that any assault is committed on a Constable except, and that very rarely by persons under influence of liquor.

From such facts it may be reasonably assumed that the improved character of the Police , and the increased education and intelligence amongst the people, which diminished the necessity of interference on their part in connection with the effective and judicious manner in which the Law has been administered have together contributed to provide the most gratifying results, and to which I have now the satisfaction of directing the Committee. Although it can hardly be expected that in a community so rapidly increasing, the number of apprehensions will in future years be much further, if at all, reduced, I still have every reason to hope that it will not be much increased; as the efforts which are now being made both to educate and ameliorate the condition of the poorer classes of the community cannot fail to operate beneficially in promoting good good order and morality , and in increasing the kindly feeling which should exist between the wealthy and the poorer classes of the inhabitants, and which is in my opinion so likely to result in the lessening and diminution of crime. In support of the opinion which I have stated that the discretion which has been exercised by the Police on the one hand and the increased education and intelligence of the people on the other, have been instrumental in producing a decrease of prisoners , I may with satisfaction refer you to tables 20 and 21.

The first of these tables will show that whilst the number of prisoners discharged in the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 amounted to nearly three fourths of the gross number apprehended, the number of prisoners discharged during the past year amounted only to about one third of the number apprehended; and that whilst in the same years the proportion of persons summarily punished by the Justices only amounted to about one sixth of the number apprehended, the number of person summarily punished in the past year amounted to nearly one half of those apprehended; also that whilst the proportion of persons who were committed for trial during the same periods only amounted to about one fourteenth of the number apprehended, the number of persons committed for trial during the past year amounted to nearly one eighth of the number apprehended: or if stated in figures that whilst in the years 1840, 1841 and 1842, the annual apprehensions averaged 13,188, - the discharges 9,692, - the summary convictions 2,546, and the committals for trial 950, - the apprehensions for the past year have only amounted to 6,587, the discharges to 2,663, - the summary convictions to 3,091, - and the committals for trial to 833. Thus it will be seen that although the total number of persons who were apprehended during the past year has not amounted to nearly one half of the average number of persons annually taken into custody during the years 1840, 1841 and 1842, the number of persons who have been summarily punished by the Justices has actually, considerably exceeded the number summarily punished during in each of those years. These facts will I think satisfactorily demonstrate that discretion has been exercised by the Police in the exercise of their powers, and that efficiency does not depend on the numbers taken into custody, but rather on the discrimination which the Officers may exhibit in the discharge of their duties by apprehending only persons against whom some definite charge or complaint can be satisfactorily proved.

The second table refers to the state of education of the persons apprehended and committed for trial, and as it appears to me, the information given in the table affords satisfactory evidence that education has become more extended and that its influence has been to lessen crime and to repress disorder. It will be observed on examination of that portion of the table which refers to the education of the persons who have been annually taken into custody that there has been a very considerable annual reduction in the number of prisoners found unable to read or write, and that the percentage or proportion of such persons has decreased from an annual average during the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 of about 53 percent on the average numbers apprehended to rather less than 39 percent on the number apprehended during the year 1847; and that as regards the persons who were found during the same years to be able to read and write well and to have a superior education the percentage or proportion on the numbers annually taken into custody has decreased from an average of about 8.80 percent to 5.4 percent in 1847, thus proving that education has been considerably on the increase , and has been more generally extended amongst all classes but also that a better state of education and superior instruction have acted beneficially in diminishing crime. On the other hand it will be observed that although there has (as in the previous cases) been a gradual annual decrease in the class of prisoners reported to have been able to read and write only very imperfectly, the percentage or proportion of such class or persons has increased in consequence of the decrease of the persons so circumstanced not having been proportionate with the general annual decrease in the number of prisoners. The returns for instance shows that whilst the number of persons apprehended in the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 who were reported to be able to read and write only very imperfectly amounted to an annual average of 38.9 percent, the number of persons belonging to the same class in 1847 amounted to 56.3 percent. Such results might reasonably be anticipated, for as education extends, the number of prisoners possessing some degree of education will naturally increase and offenders are most likely to be found to be the most numerous amongst that class which enjoys the lowest degree of education.

The second portion of the table refers to the degree of education of the prisoners tried and convicted in each year since the year 1840: and as to the information which the table contains has been procured from the prison calendars (in which it may be presumed the state of education is correctly given) it is satisfactory to find that that the results correspond with those obtained from the information which has been procured from the Police Books, and stated in the preceding portion of the table in regard to the state of education of the persons taken into custody.

The portion of the returns referred to for instance shows that the average proportion of the prisoners annually tried and convicted in the years 1840, 1841 and 1842 who could neither read nor write has decreased from an annual average of 48.33 percent to that of 35.3 percent during the year 1847, and that the proportion of those who during the same years were reported to be able to read and write well, and to have a superior education has decreased from an average 12.3 percent on the average numbers annually tried and convicted to that of 5.88 percent in the year 1847:- whilst on the other hand the proportion of those who are stated to have had only imperfect instruction or to be able to read or write only very imperfectly has increased in the percentage from the average of about 38.93 percent, which existed in the years 1840, 1841 and 1842, to that of 58.8 percent during the past year: giving as nearly as possible in respect of the prisoners who have been tried and convicted from the information contained in the Prison calendars, the same results were obtained from the Police Books in regards to persons taken into custody.

In regard to the committals for trial it is doubtless matter for regret that there should have been any increase in the numbers of persons so circumstanced as compared with previous years and more especially as such increases of committals may be considered as indicating an increase of crime. The offence however which have been committed have not been of a serious or aggravated character, and considering the great distress which has existed during the past year and the great number of people who have been continually out of employment (as evidenced by the weekly returns which have been published by the press and as shown in the Tables of the present returns, relating to the state of employment of the operative classes who were engaged in mills and other large works during each month in the year and in the returns of prisoners who were found to be out of employment at the time of apprehension) it can hardly be a matter of surprise that there should have been an increase in the number of felonies or in that class of offence for which persons are usually committed for trials. It is only justice however to state that in the great majority of cases the offences against property above referred to have been of such a character as to render it almost impossible for the Police by any vigilance or care to prevent.

The entrances into buildings have been generally effected through back of premises enclosed by yards or through the roofs of buildings to which the Police have had no access many through coal grids which have been left insecure; some by means of false keys, and few comparatively and by far the smallest number by forcible entry, including those felonies which have been effected by cutting or breaking glass and lifting windows.

In more than half of the number of robberies from the person reported to have been committed with violence, the complainants were intoxicated when the robberies were stated to have taken place, and women were generally found to be the principal agents. Indeed in all descriptions of larcenies or robberies from the person, women appear to have been the parties who have committed or been the principals in committing those offences where the largest sums of money was reported to have been stolen.

The correctness of these statements will be fully shown by an examination of tables nos 32 and 33 which give a detailed account of the robberies from the person, committed by prostitutes and by men, also of the places where the robberies were committed; the mode in which effected; the amount of money &c stolen; the sum recovered by the Police; the number of prisoners apprehended and how they have been dealt with and finally disposed of. As the women engaged in committing such robberies usually belong to the lowest class of street walker who effect their depredations after dark when they have generally male associates within call to aid them in cases where they meet with parties intoxicated it may be worthy of consideration whether more stringent measures ought to be adopted for removing and deterring such persons from infesting the street.

The following table gives a return of the numbers of robberies from the person which have respectively been committed in Spirit Vaults and in public houses during the past year; and the information therein contained further shows that fewer fewer robberies have taken place in public house than in spirit vaults. The number of robberies from the person which have been committed in spirit vaults bears the proportion of 38 per cent to the number of vaults , whilst the proportion of of the same class committed in public houses which have no vaults attached to them does not amount to more than eight and a half per cent on the number of public houses. Again in public houses which have no vaults attached to them the number of robberies committed in the vaults bears the proportion of 18 per cent on the number of houses, whilst the robberies which have been committed in the tap, bar and other parts of house have not amounted to more than 12 per cent.

It appears that the largest number of apprehensions have been made from the class of persons having no trade and reputed thieves, from prostitutes the next largest:- labourers the next in number, and then weavers and piecers, of the remaining description of trades (of which forty seven different classes are enumerated in the trade tables) no especial large numbers of prisoners belong to any particular trade.

As respects the amount of money which has been stolen during the year as stated in the Felony Table it will appear ( as has been the case in previous years) that the sum stolen during the day, that is between the hours of six o'clock in the morning and nine o'clock in the evening , has been infinitely larger than during the night. It is obvious that the presenting of forged bills or acceptances and the purloining of goods from warehouses and shops when open can only take place by day, and as regards the forging of bills, a sum of considerable amount is included in the money reported to have been stolen, in the present returns.

In all the above name class of robbers the police have little powers of prevention but I am happy to say that they have nevertheless been very successful in recovering property, for out of a sum of about £12,279 reported to have been stolen, the sum of £6,725 has been recovered through the instrumentality of the Police, and the Police have recovered from property accidentally lost by the public the sum of £1293, although information was given by to the Police in regard to £622 only as accidentally lost.

Of the prisoners transported during the year and amounting to 54 males and 16 females it will be seen on reference to table no 36 that two only of the whole number were well educated, that 49 were only very imperfectly educated, and that 19 were found to have no education at all : that 27 persons were under 20 of age, 29 between the ages of 20 and 30 years, 9 between 30 and 40 years, and 5 between 40 and 50 years.

As regards the miscellaneous returns there are many tables containing much interesting and important information and to some it it may be desirable to make reference.

The table of fires gives a detailed account of the manner in which all have occurred within the Borough during the year and have been extinguished; the number and description of each class of building which has been on fire, the description of the various kinds of property which has been burnt, the amount of damage done both to the buildings and property contained therein, the amount of property saved , the number of buildings and the amount of property insured and uninsured with other particulars as to the attendance of the engines, Firemen and Police, and the supposed origin or cause of the fires &c.

It will be satisfactory to observe that the total amount of damage to property and buildings arising from 112 fire which have occurred is only estimated at £ 42,633 11s 6d viz:- £10,459 10s 6d for damage to buildings and £32,194 1s 0d for damage to property, and that the salvage of property which has been in danger has amounted to an estimated £156,125 4s 8d. The return further gives an account of three other fires which were attended by the Fire Brigade beyond the limits of the Borough.

In the next table it will be observed that during the 2469 premises were found insecure by the Police at night, of which 1319 containing property were left quite unprotected, without any persons residing on the premises, and 683 other premises containing property with persons residing on the premises: which may be have said to have been equally liable to robbery as the residents had retired to rest when the Constables found the building in an insecure state. The same table also contains an account of 4348 children lost in the streets , of whom 2064 were restored to their parents by the Police:- also a statement of the money taken for safety from drunken persons whilst in charge of the Police amounting to £925 7s 11d, which is less by £670 than the amount taken for persons under similar circumstances in the previous year, arising probably, partly from the depressed state of trade, and partly from an improvement in the morals of the people.

As respect to the conduct of the public houses it is gratifying to be able to state that the reports are considerably fewer than they were in the previous year, being as 68 to 114, and the amount of penalties £53 13s 0d to £70 17s 0d.

The same results also appear in regards to beerhouses, as the complaints are 47 fewer, and the amount of penalties £22 13 0d less than they were in the year 1846.

There can be no doubt whatsoever that there has been considerably less drunkenness within the Borough during the past year than in previous years as I feel assured could be satisfactorily proved by the public, by the landlords of public houses and beerhouses as well as by officers of the Police.

As respect to offences against the Local acts there appear to have been 3373 cases reported by the Police, and 3233 persons summonsed before the Committee,- that 39 only of the cases were not proved , and that the fines imposed amounted to £264 8s 6d. Of unsound meat the Superintendents of Police have seized 4494 lbs weight which has been destroyed, and the penalties which have been inflicted for offering meat of the above description for sale have amounted with the costs to upwards of £21.

In effecting sanitary improvements in the dwellings of the poorer classes the Police have been extremely active as will be seen by reference to tables nos 43 and 44.

Between 7^th May and 12^th October when the Cow Fever was so prevalent in consequence of the great influx of poor and destitute Irish, and when so many deaths were continually occurring, the eight officers who were appointed to this duty visited no less than 1882 dwelling houses of the poor, and caused 818 to be cleansed and whitewashed, 1568 cases of illness and 3711 cases of destitution were reported by the Officers to the Guardians of which latter number 3627 of the cases consisted of persons who were found destitute when visited at the residences and the remainder of persons who were found destitute in the streets.

The Police were also enabled by means of a small sum of £50 which was placed for that purpose by a number of benevolent individuals at the disposal of the Chief Constable to afford relief to many parties found to be in such extreme want as to require immediate nourishment and unable to wait until their case could be reported to the Board of Guardians, not fewer than 1128 families or 3063 persons including the children were thus timely assisted by the Police. In all such cases the provisions were purchased and taken to the dwellings of the destitute by the Officers and an entry made in the visiting book of the name and address and number of the family relieved with the quantity and amount of provisions supplied.

I feel assured that much good was effected by thus dispensing funds placed at my disposal, and in some instances there is no doubt that life was preserved by the timely relief afforded by the Police. The Officers have several times reported having found the poor persons whom they visited and relieved, in the most abject condition and in such a state of exhaustion from the want of food, as to render it physically impossible for them to have gone any distance in order to obtain relief.

The system which was under the sanction of the Committee adopted of visiting the poor at their dwellings was doubtless the means of affording required assistance to many of that class of distressed and deserving families which it is much to be feared at all times especially in times of extraordinary pressure are if sought for to be found patiently suffering extreme privations and yet deterred from appearing before the Guardians of the Poor for relief or from obtruding themselves before the public as beggars in the streets.

The very deficient supply of water which is so necessary for the promotion of cleanliness will be seen from table no 46 the particulars were contained in which obtained in December 1846. It appears that very nearly one half of the total number of houses within the City (sic) were at the time of making out the return altogether unsupplied with pipe water either within the houses or from taps in the street, and that less than one fourth of the houses were supplied with pipe water in the interiors.

It will be seen from table no 48 that that the total number of dwelling houses within the borough on the last day of December 1847 was 49,022, being an increase on the number reported in the previous year notwithstanding the great depression in trade of 1699 dwelling houses. The number of houses however which were uninhabited when the return was taken amounted to 2537, being as compared with the return of the previous year, an increase of 1692.

The dwelling cellars appear to have been less in number than they were in the previous year , and more cellars are also reported to have been uninhabited when the returns were taken.

As respects the population although the average number computed for each house might in some districts be safely increased in consequence of the increase in the number of families who have been induced or compelled by the pressure of the times to live together in one dwelling house, it has been thought better to adhere to the plan hitherto adopted and to take the same average number for each house in computing the present population. To make any change unless great pains were taken to ascertain the numbers, would probably cause considerable confusion.

The average number therefore residing in each dwelling house as been taken as in previous years, and makes the population of the Borough amount to 299,445 persons being only a slight increase of the number of the population as given in the returns for the yeas 1846.

It affords me great pleasure to be able to speak in strong terms of commendation of the general conduct of the Police. They has discharged the arduous duties which have devolved upon them with great efficiency and at the same time with so much consideration and forbearance as to secure for them not only the approval of their superior Officers but also the good will and kindly feeling of the inhabitants.

The truth of this gratifying statement will be abundantly proved by the fact that during the year only 22 reports and most of them as a slight character have been preferred against the police by the inhabitants.

Of the 84 voluntary resignations which have taken place during the year no less than 57 of the Officers and the Consumables have resigned to accept better situations to which they were specially recommended to parties applying to me for trustworthy Officers, some to obtain situations of their own seeking and others in consequence of the duties being more onerous than they could bear.

In conclusion I have merely to add that every endeavour has been made to economise the expenditure as far as was consistent with a due regard to preserving the efficiency of the Force, and I am happy in being able to state that although extra expenses amounting to about £150 were incurred in the months of May and June in 1847 in consequence of the Force being increased by a few additional men during the period when so many persons were out of employ and when some slight disagreement existed between one or two of the mill owners and the persons in their employ, - the expense has not exceeded the amount of the estimate , and that the average cost per head has only amounted to £51 2s 9d being the lowest average expended in any previous year.

As the preceding report refers entirely to the returns bearing upon crime and other circumstances which have occurred during the year 1847, I have not thought it advisable to refer particularly to the occurrences which have lately taken place, or the attempt made on the 8^th March last by some evil disposed person to disrupt the peace of the city. These matters will form the subject of notice in a future report, but it may not be out of place to remark that however much the vigilance and energy displayed by the Police may have been instrumental in suppressing the disturbances, it is to the determination exhibited by the operatives in the mills not only not to join in the movement but to assist their Masters in protecting their property and resisting aggression that we are largely indebted for the maintenance of peace and order. I refer with satisfaction to the praiseworthy and creditable conduct of the operatives as affording additional proof of their increased intelligence and as a further confirmation of the correctness of the opinions I have expressed that the more intelligent the people become, the more disposed will they be to assist in the maintenance of peace.

Edward Willis

Chief Constable.

Meeting 4^th May 1848

Resolved

That the following estimate of pay to the extra number of supernumeraries employed in consequence of the later disturbances for the week ending May 2^nd be, and is hereby approved of; and that a copy of the same signed by the Chairman be transmitted to the Finance Committee.

Total = £60 2s 4d

Resolved

That Charles Hughes having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Police Constable.

Resolved

That Police Constable A30 Thomas Flanagan having appeared before the Committee is appointed Sub Inspector at the wages of 25/- per week.

Public Urinals

The following Memorandum from the minutes of the Building and Sanitary Regulations Committee proceedings on May 3^rd inst.:

That the Watch Committee be respectfully requested to give directions to the Police Officers to prevent as far as practicable, damage to, or any improper use of the public urinals within the Borough , and that a list of the same be transmitted to the Chief Constable.”

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be instructed to comply , as far as practicable, with the request of the Building and Sanitary Regulations Committee.

Meeting 11^th May 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Thomas Houghland and James Whitelegg.

Meeting 18^th May 1848

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the Finance Committee's proceedings was read:

That the Watch Committee be requested to appoint and swear in as a Constable William Smith, Messenger for the purpose of enabling him to serve the summonses and warrants obtained for the recovery of Police rates and Gas Rates.

Memorandum

William Smith, Messenger appeared before the Committee and was appointed and sworn in to act as a Constable.

Memorandum

The following extract from the minutes of the Nuisance Committee's proceedings was read:

Mr George Peacock, Shopkeeper of nos 53 and 55 Deansgate attended and complained of great annoyance from the hawkers of oranges who congregate in that thoroughfare and impede the free passage of the public. It was also reported by the Superintendent that parties resident in other public thoroughfares were much annoyed by a similar nuisance.

Resolved:

That the Watch Committee be respectfully requested to instruct Police Officers to prevent the nuisance complained of, and to take the parties found offending before the Magistrates

Resolved

That the consideration of the above be postponed until the next meeting.

Meeting 25^th May 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Charles [Davis],

Henry White, John Hartley and John Iredale.

Memorandum

Last weeks request fro the Nuisance Committee was again read and considered.

Resolved

That the Nuisance committee be informed...that, whilst the Committee are desirous of affording, through the Police Constables all the assistance which may be desired in preventing obstructions and other annoyances in the streets, it appears to this Committee desirable that all offences of this description should be as heretofore reported by the Police Officers to the Nuisance Committee, and be dealt with by the Superintendent of department in such way as the Nuisance Committee, to whom this duty has been specially referred by the Council, shall direct.

Meeting 8^th June 1848

Resolved

That the following Police Constables having performed the duty of Sub Inspector to the satisfaction of the Chief Constable be and hereby appointed Sub Inspectors at the wages of 25/- per week:

No 3 D Edward Harwood

No 68 D Samuel Gratrix

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Thomas Brunt, John Goodwin, Daniel Gratrix and John Leach.

Memorandum

The offences reported and fines imposed by the Chief Constable were read out.

Resolved

That in consideration of the extra services performed by the Police during the past week and of their generally meritorious conduct, the fines imposed by Captain Willis for the offences reported, with the exception of that upon Thomas Downing C 83, be altogether remitted, and that the fine of 7/6 imposed upon such last named Constable for drunkenness be reduced to 5/-.

Meeting 22^nd June 1848

Statistical Returns

Resolved

That the sum of £20 be allowed and paid to Mr McDonald, Inspector in the Police Force in consideration of the extra time devoted by him in preparing and superintending the printing of the statistical returns for the past year.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

William Cockcroft, Thomas Pollard, James Huly, and Aaron Hodgson.

Meeting 29^th June 1848

Resolved

That Police Constable A 33 James Lumb having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed Sub Inspector at the wages of 25/- per week

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Samuel Wood, Thomas Hadfield, William Lythgoe, Samuel Gough, John Pearson, and John Price.

Meeting 13^th July 1848

Weights and Measures Department

Memorandum

The following extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the General Purposes Committee on the 7^th July inst.

The Mayor reported that the two Outdoor Inspectors had been appointed at £120 per annum each, and that the system was now working very satisfactorily, and suggested the propriety of placing the department under the control of the Watch Committee, as the Justices were desirous that such an arrangement should be made by the Council.

Resolved

That the extract read above be referred to the Chief Constable with instructions to report at the next the meeting the arrangements necessary for carrying out the resolution of the General Purposes Committee.

Police Library

Memorandum

The Chief Constable has pleasure in informing the Committee that he has received from Mr George Peel, a present for the Police Library of a work entitled Chamber's Miscellany consisting of ten volumes. And also a present from Mr Joseph Peel of Shakespeare's Life and Works, Modern Travels and other works consisting altogether of seventeen volumes.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be requested to communicate the best thanks of this Committee to Messrs Peel for their liberal presents to the Police Library.

Meeting 20^th July 1848

Smoke Inspectors

Memorandum

The Chief Constable begs to inform the Watch Committee that Inspector Fox has requested him to mention to the Committee that he should prefer remaining in the Police Force to taking the Office of Inspector of the Smoke Nuisance as he is now receiving the same salary as proposed with the chance of promotion which he would not possess in the situation afforded.

Resolved

That a copy of the above be transmitted to the Nuisance Committee.

Weights and Measures

Memorandum

The Chief Constable begs to inform the Committee that he has examined so far so far as the time would permit him to do so, into the working detail of the Weights and Measures Department and is of [the] opinion that the system as arrange under Mr Mellor's direction is satisfactorily managed and work advantageously , and that the books are well formed and contain information on all points both as to the duties performed by Officers of the Department and the money that has been charged and received for regulating and stamping the Weights and Measures which have been found defective or which have been brought to the Office to be adjusted to the standard.

The Chief Constable cannot on such a short insight into the system of the department say at present whether any alteration may be advisable hereafter, but he will look more closely into the working detail, and if any improvement should suggest itself he will name it to the Committee.

The Chief Constable would recommend that Mr Mellor, the Chief Inspector of the Department, be instructed to attend the weekly meeting of the Watch Committee, and that he also be required to submit for the inspection of the Committee a report of the duties performed during the week as detailed in the books now in use which are submitted for the inspection of the Committee.

Resolved

That the above is hereby approved of and adopted, and that the Chief Constable be directed to carry out the recommendations therein contained.

Resolved

That Sub Inspector John Jones of the A Division having discharged the duty of Inspector to the satisfaction of the Chief Constable be, and is hereby appointed Inspector at the wages of 30/- per week.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: William Mould, Edward Craven and John Grundy.

Memorandum

Letter read from Mr John Hardman, Solicitor to the Rochdale Canal Company requesting the assistance of the Police to prevent bathing and depredations on the banks of the canal.

Letter also read from Mr Joshua Lee requesting that the Police might be instructed to prevent the assembling of disorderly persons in Goulden Street who by throwing balls, stones &c, damage the property there.

Resolved

That the above letters be referred to the Chief Constable with authority to give such directions as he may deem desirable the nuisances complained of.

Meeting 27^th July 1848

Memorandum

The following resolution of a meeting of the Borough on 26^th July instant was read: That in the peculiar state of the Borough it is expedient in the opinion of this meeting that the Police Force be immediately increased, and that a recommendation be made to the Watch Committee to increase the Force by the addition of 200 men.

Resolution

That it is desirable to appoint temporarily and with as little delay as possible two hundred supernumerary Constables to act with the regular Force in case of need, and that the Chief Constable be authorised and directed to engage that number of men, reporting when the opportunity offers to this Committee.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be authorised to obtain 200 collar badges for the extra number of men engaged.

Meeting 3^rd August 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Robert Hughes, Joseph Sykes, George Lees, Paul Ord, Thomas Wilson, Thomas Smith, John Torr, Joseph Newbold and John Hambleton.

Memorandum

Letter read dated 2^nd August instant from Messrs Lees and Saul, Churchwardens of St Thomas's Church, Ardwick offering with the concurrence of the Rev N W Gibson MA incumbent, a set in the Churchwardens' Pew for the use of the Superintendent of the C Division of Police.

Resolved

That the best thanks of this Committee be tendered to the Churchwardens and the Rev N W Gibson MA incumbent of St Thomas's Church, Ardwick for their courteous offer of a seat in the Churchwardens' Pew for the Superintendent of the C Division of the Police.

Chorlton upon Medlock D Division Station

Memorandum

Mr Shorland submitted an estimate of the expense of making certain alterations at this station for providing increased accommodation for the assembling and parading of the Constables, and which alterations had been approved of by the Chorlton upon Medlock Committee, subject to this Committee making the same at their own expense.

Meeting 17^th August 1848

Resolved

That Thomas Nevet having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Police Constable.

Memorandum

Memorial read from the owners and occupiers of premises in Little Lever Street and the neighbourhood calling the attention of the Committee to the annoyance they suffer from the assembling in that neighbourhood of very low characters, and, requesting the interference of the Police to prevent the same.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be requested to place such numbers of extra men on the beats in this neighbourhood as will prevail to prevent the annoyance complained of.

Meeting 24^th August 1848

Memorandum

Memorial read from the inhabitants of Spinning Field and neighbourhood complaining of disorderly conduct in a house on that street, and requesting the Committee to interfere to prevent the same.

Resolved

That the above be referred to the Chief Constable with instructions to do what he may consider necessary in the matter.

Meeting 7^th September 1848

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable the following Police Constables be promoted to the Merit Class: C 33 Richard Lalor and C 87 John Cookson.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

George Lowe, Edward Lees and John Holroyd.

Meeting 21^st September 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

John Gledhill and James Sanderson

Meeting 28^th September 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Charles Allcock, George Trigg, Charles Newsome Thwaite, George Bramwell and Ephraim Brears.

Meeting 5^th October 1848

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable the following Police Constables have been awarded the Merit Class: D 46 David read; D 35 William Sutton and D 87 Joseph Fenton.

Resolved

That the following parities having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:William Taylor; Benjamin Tempest;Thomas Orme and William Bonsar.

Memorandum

The following letter was read out:

At a meeting of Gentlemen deputed by the Board of Guardians of the Manchester Union and the Sanitary Committee of the Town council held at the Town Hall, Manchester on Saturday the thirteenth day of September 1848 for the purpose of considering the steps necessary to be taken with reference to the approach of the Asiatic Cholera.

The following Resolutions were unanimously passed:

That the Mayor be requested to communicate with Her Majesty's Privy Council with a view to immediately enforcing in this locality “The Nuisances Removal and Diseases Prevention Prevention Act 1848” by which Act the Privy Council on the approach of any contagious or epidemic disorder are authorised to issue certain orders to Boards of Guardians and others for carrying into effect the sanitary measures therein provided for.

That the attention of the Watch Committee and of the Nuisance, Scavenging and Sanitary Committees of the Council be respectfully and urgently called to the propriety of immediately taking all such steps as they may deem expedient and practicable in exercise of the various provisions of the Manchester Improvement Act entrusted in such Committees

of the general sanitary condition of this Borough.

Memorandum

It was stated that the Guardians would provide labourers to assist in carrying out the regulations relative to the clearance of Lodging Houses.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be instructed to take such steps as may be necessary for properly cleansing and whitewashing the Lodging Houses throughout the Borough and to avail himself of the assistance offered by the Guardians in providing labourers for such purposes.

Resolved

That the Chairman and the Mayor be deputed to wait upon the Board of Guardians to call their attention to the several cases of persons reported by the Police have been refused admission to the Workhouse although in a state of great destitution.

Memorandum

The Chief Constable reported that in consequence of the great increase of streets and buildings and of population in the Borough during the last three or four years (since the extension of the police Force) the Constables' Beats in many parts of the Borough were become disproportionately large and the security for persons and property in those districts considerably impaired.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be requested to report to this Committee the increase of streets and new buildings in the several divisions of the Borough, and the number of men required in his opinion to afford adequate protection of the public.

Meeting 12^th October 1848

Memorandum

The following was extract from the minutes of the Lamp and Scavenging Committee's proceedings on the 10^th instant were read out:

That the Watch Committee be respectfully requested to direct their Officers to report to this Department all ashpits which require emptying in order to prevent any unnecessary accumulation of filth within the Borough.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable be instructed to comply with the request of the Lamp and Scavenging Committee contained, in the Resolution now read , which is understood to apply to Public Ashpits only.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: John Cottingham and John Platt.

Meeting 19^th October 1848

Memorandum

The Chairman and the Mayor reported, that they had, with the Chief Constable, an interview with the Board of Guardians on the 12^th October instant, and that called to the attention of the Board to the several cases of destitute persons found in the streets by Police Officers, and who upon being taken to the Workhouse, were refused admittance, and the Guardians at once undertook to make provisions for receiving into the Workhouse any persons who may hereafter be found in the streets in a state of destitution.

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: Thomas Thacker and William Arrowsmith.

Meeting 26^th October 1848

Resolved

That Sub Inspector John Hall A Division having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed Inspector at the wage of 30/- per week.

Resolved

That the following Police Constables having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Sub Inspectors at the wages of 25/- per week:

PC 52 William Barker Cassom, B Division

PC 1 Charles Wilson

PC 68 Henry Duckworth

PC 2 Joseph Platt C Division

PC 43 John Gee

PC 24 Thomas Riley

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Meeting 2^nd November 1848

Resolved

That William Stubbs having appeared before the Committee is hereby appointed a Police Constable.

Meeting 9^th November 1848

Memorandum

The following letter was read out:

27^th October 1848

Sir ,

Permit me to inform you that arrangements have been made whereby females and children , being tramps, can now be admitted to the Tib Street Vagrant Ward. The arrangements for for the accommodation of the men are progressing as rapidly as possible, and on the completion thereof intimation shall be forwarded to you. I beg further to inform you that the Guardians have communicated with the Poor Law Board on the subject of the employment of persons in the receipt of Relief in whitewashing and cleaning the dwellings of the poor, and it appears that at present the Guardians can not legally call upon such persons to perform such labour except to a limited extent.

Jno Harrop

Clerk to the Guardians.

Meeting 16^th November 1848

Memorandum

The following letter was read out:

Manchester Union

Nov 9^th 1848

Sir,

I am directed by the Guardians of the Manchester Union to intimate to you that accommodation is now provided for males and females in the Vagrant Wards of the Union in Tib Street, and that the Guardians considerate desirable that a Policeman be placed there during the night, as at the Night Asylum .

Jno Harrop

Clerk to the Guardians

Town Hall Manchester 11^th November 1848

Sir,

I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9^th informing me of the arrangements that have been made by the Guardians fro the accommodation of male and female vagrants in the workhouse in Tib Street and requesting me to grant the services of a Police Constable to maintain order during the night. I shall not be able to grant you the exclusive services of a Police Constable except with the sanction of the Watch Committee, as it would oblige me to detach a man from one of the appointed beats, but I will lay your letter before the Committee at their next meeting, and in the meantime give directions that the Constable on the beat in Tib Street shall visit the workhouse whilst taking his round of duty throughout the night.

Edward Willis,

Chief Constable

Meeting November 23^rd 1848

Resolved

That in accordance with the recommendation of the Chief Constable John Olive is hereby promoted to the Merit Class.

Vagrancy &c

Resolved

That the letter addressed by the Chief Constable to the Clerk of the Board of Guardians dated November 11^th and submitted at the last meeting be approved of: and that he be instructed, again to mention the subject, if the arrangement made is not considered satisfactory by the Board.

Memorandum

Letter read from the Clerk of the Board of Guardians, enclosing letter from Thomas Heaton containing a complaint against Officers of the A Division.

Resolved

That the Board of Guardians be informed by the Chief Constable that the complaint made by Heaton has been enquired into and dismissed as utterly groundless; it being clearly proved that whilst Heaton conducted himself improperly at the office, the Officer on duty civilly informed him that without the authority of the Chief Constable or the Superintendent, he had no power to send a Constable to remain at the Tib Street Asylum.

Meeting 30^th November 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables:

Abraham Haigh, Uriah Booth, Charles Ross, Thomas Moores and Thomas Withers.

Meeting 21^st December 1848

Memorandum

Mr Foulkes attended on behalf of the Trustees of the late Duke of Bridgewater and presented the following request;

To Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace acting and for the Incorporated Borough of Manchester in the County of Lancaster and also the Watch Committee of the said Borough:-

I the undersigned being an agent and duly authorised by the Trustees appointed in pursuance of the last Will and Testament of the most noble Francis the late Duke of Bridgewater, and proprietors of Bridgewater Canal and the Mersey and Irwell Navigation situate lying and being within the said Borough and (acting in management of the Canal and Navigation affairs of the said proprietors) do hereby respectfully request you the said Justices or any two of you or the said Watch Committee to appoint George Palmer aged 40, Edward Wilson aged 53, George Dandy aged 40 and Nicholas Holloway aged 48 as Constables on and along the Bridgewater Canal and such part of the River Medlock as is navigable and connected with the said Canal; and John Hindley aged 34, John Smith aged 64, Abraham Ogden aged 55 and John Rawlinson aged 37 to be Constables on and along the Mersey and Irwell Navigation so far as it lies within the said Borough, pursuant to the provisions of an Act of Parliament passed in the 3^rd and 4^th years of the present Reign, Chapter 50, entitled “An Act to Provide for Keeping the Peace on Canal and Navigable Rivers”, And I hereby as such agent undertake on behalf of the said proprietors to pay every such Constable such salaries and allowances and at such time and in such manner as the said proprietors shall think fit. As witness my hand the 20^th day of December 1848.

George Marsden

Memorandum

In compliance with the application made on behalf of the Trustees of the late Duke of Bridgewater. The following parties; George Palmer, Edward Wilson, George Dandy and Nicholas Holloway having appeared before the Committee were duly appointed and sworn in as Constables to act on and along the Bridgewater Canal and such part of the River Medlock as is navigable and connected with the said Canal; and also the following parties John Hindley, John Smith, Abrahan Ogden and John Rawlinson having also appeared before the Committee were duly appointed and sworn in as Constables to act on and along the Mersey and Irwell Navigation so far as it lies within the said Borough, under and by virtue of the powers contained in the Act of Parliament passed in the 3^rd and 4^th years of the present Reign, Chapter 50, entitled “An Act to Provide for Keeping the Peace on Canal and Navigable Rivers”.

Memorandum

The following letter from the Manchester Union was read out:

Manchester, 20^th December 1848

Sir,

I beg to inform the Watch Committee of the Town Council of the Borough of Manchester that Christopher Steele who was during the earlier part of the present year sworn in as a Constable of the Borough, at the request of the Board of Guardians in whose employ he then was, is no longer the servant of the Manchester Union.

Jno Harrop

Clerk to the Board

Memorandum

A memorial from William Palmer Beerhouse Keeper in Rochdale Road complaining of interference with his business on the part of the Police having been read.

Resolved

That the Chief Constable inform William Palmer that this Committee decline to interfere in anyway in reference to the matters alleged in his memorial , and inform him that the Police have positive orders to prevent any violations of the Law by the Beersellers, and to report every offence committed by William Palmer, and that if he has any defence to offer, he has the opportunity of submitting his evidence to the Justices.

Meeting 28^th December 1848

Resolved

That the following parties having appeared before the Committee are hereby appointed Police Constables: William Oakley, Thomas Greenwood , Samuel Broadhurst and Joseph Arlom.

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