POLICE ELECTORS.--" On Friday last, an order was read over
to the New Police constables, at the different station-houses in the metropolis, ordering all these who had votes for Norwich to give in their names to the Superintendent of the Division."—The above is given in a Morning Paper of Tuesday. We should like to ascertain its truth. If au attempt have been made by any of the underlings of this corps to convert it into a political engine, they must be taught their error. We hope Sir Robert Peel will cause such conduct to be inquired into. We are persuaded that very soon there must be some modification of the New Police. At present these men look on themselves as something separate from the community, and frequently prove the despots rather than the protectors of the people. The motive power of the Police is a false one. The Constable studies to please the Sergeant, the Sergeant the Inspector, the Inspector the Superintendent, the Superintendent the Commis- sioners, and they the Home Secretary. Thus, the eye of every man, from the least to the greatest, is turned, not to the honest discharge of . his duty,lnit to that discharge of it which he thinks will be most agree- aide to Sir Ili:Zeit- . It is quite obvious that the people that fill the chairs of Police Magistr VW-Afraid to thwart the Police. These ,5men hold their honours at the beck of the Home Secretary ; and if they i were found interfering to protect the public from the insolence of his pet corps, they fear they might be set to the right about. We don't believe Sir Robert Peel would do so ; nor do we think he dares, because he too may be set to the right about, as well as his minions. The King can order off a Secretary with as much ease as a Secretary can a Police Magistrate ; and were the Secretary to abuse his powers, we have no hesitation in saying he would. But the opinion that these things are agreeable to the great man, produces as much evil as the reality would ; the visionary fear of encountering his indignation is quite as injurious as if the fear were substantial. All this we are afraid, will compel us again to place the Police under the parish authorities, either by giving to the latter the power, as they formerly had, of appointing the constables and officers, subject to the approbation of the Commissioners, or by giving them the power, when a proper case is made out, of turning them off. Until the Police hold of the community, it seill_hca troublesome, teasing, and ineffective, because .hated corps, iffs at preseartOniriair 16 &are any apprehension hiLondon ; but even in that respect it is not altogether unexceptionable in the villages that surround the metropolis.
Previous page
