1 DECEMBER 1967, Page 10

A hundred years ago

From the 'Spectator,' 30 November 1867—The Times and Telegraph alike demand a large increase to the Metropolitan Police, which now numbers only 7,000 men, scattered over 700 square miles of thickly populated ground. Not more than half of these men can be on duty at once; there are whole districts where it is necessary to send policemen in pairs, and a proportion are always in hospital or under treatment. The number should be raised to 10,000, and at least 1,000 armed and employed as a night patrol to support the regular staff. The diffi- culty is to find the money, London being already heavily taxed, but it must be got over somehow. Would a metage tax on salt, like the one on corn, be oppressive, or must we double the shilling on wine?