Is brutality; which is so dreadfully on the increase ins
the North, declining in London? It would seem so, for Colonel Henderson, in his annual report on the Police, states that the number of assaults on policemen in 1873-4 was only 2,521, against 3,692 in the previous year. That is a most remarkable decrease, and an accurate perception' of its cause would greatly help the Magistrates in dealing with violent ruffians. Colonel Henderson attributes the decrease partly to the operation of theLicensing Act, and partly to increased severity of punishment, but the subject needs more thorough investigation. If punishment really prevents these assaults, there seems no reason why a selected class of policemen, of assured good-conduct, should not be distinguished by a special badge, say a scarf or an epaulette, and be specially protected by law. Nothing would increase the efficiency of the Police so much as the existence of a class among them whom nobody would venture to strike, and who could be trusted not to abuse the exemption. In many districts of London one such man would be worth five ordinary policemen:
Previous page
