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The Journal of the New Cambridge Police 1837-8

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APPENDIX B, Report to Secretary of State, on policing arrangements, Michaelmas 1836 (1 October 1836)

WATCH COMMITTEE QUARTERLY REPORT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAELMAS 1836

Letter to the Rt Hon Lord John RUSSEL His Majesties Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department.

The Report of the Watch Committee of the Borough of Cambridge made in pursuance of the Statute 5th and 6th William IV Ch 76 S86

Gunning, Town Clerk

The members of the Watch Committee of the Borough of Cambridge beg to report to your Lordship that upon entering upon their duties they proceeded to obtain information on the subject of Police and for that purpose procured with the permission of Your Lordship the attendance from the Police Establishment in London of an active and intelligent person, whom they have since engaged to remain here as Superintendent of Police.

Unity is in their opinion essential to the efficiency of the police force and they have therefore united the night police with the day police; they will form one Force governed by the same discipline and directed by the same officers. The whole time of each Police Constable will be devoted to the discharge of his duty, which both by day and by night will be distributed amongst them in rotation.

The Committee recommend that the Borough be divided into 18 Divisions or Beats with an equal number of Police Constables proportioned to each Division or Beat; and they think the following apportionment desirable viz.,

First Section

Beat No1

Post, Mountpleasant to Honey Hill, Castle Lane looking to Waymans Yard, Suffolk Place, Castle Street to the end of Chesterton Lane, St Peters Passage to Kettles Yard, Beehive Row, Haymarket to St Peters Church and back to his post.

Beat No 2

Post, Chesterton Lane along Northampton Street looking to Collins Court to Bandy Legged Walk, back to the colleges to St Johns back gate, back to Magdalene Street looking to Fishers Lane, along Bridge St to Clement Church, turn down Thompsons Lane to Sedge Yard, back through the passage to the Quayside to his post

Beat No 3

Post, Ram Yard to St Johns Lane to All Saints Passage, back to St Johns Back Lane looking to Globe Passage, Warrens Yard, Blackmoor Head Yard, through Clements Lane, Portugal Place along Park Street to Jesus Lane, down to Jesus College and back to All Saints Church to the end of Green Street, back to his post.

Beat No 4

Post, Corner Jesus Lane and Sidney Street, looking down the Mews Yard along Green Street looking to Blue Boar Yard, to Trinity Street to Caius College, looking down the Crescent to Mr D's back to Trinity Back Lane, Jerrards Hostel Bridge to Clare Hall Gate, up Senate House Passage, St Mary's Street, down the Crescent to Mr D's back, to Market Street, Sidney Street to St Andres Street to Christs College Lane back to Hobson Street, Sussex Street, to his post.

Beat No 5

Post, Petty Cury, down White Hand Yard to Black Ditch, up Falcon Yard into Petty Cury, Market Hill by W.Turfe's by Orridges Door, down Warwick Street, St Mary's Passage, Kings Parade, to Haslops, Benet Street, half way up, Free School Lane, back again to Benet Street, Peas Hill, Round St Edwards Church, Union Street, Wheeler Street, part of Slaughterhouse Lane, back to Sparrows Lane, round the Town Hall to his post.

Beat No 6

Post, Corner Kings Lane, down Queens Lane to Newnham, to Mrs Wheelwright's House, back to the bottom of Mill Lane, up Silver Street to Botolph Lane, Trumpimgton Street to the end of Benet Street to his post.

Beat No 7

Post, corner Tennis Court Road to St Andrews Hill back to Pembroke Street, St Botolphs Lane down Mill Lane, round by Mr Cummings Lane up Little St Marys Lane, Trumpington Street, looking into Nelsons Court, down Fitzwilliam Street by Tennis Court Road, looking to the back of Mr Cotton's brewhouse to his post.

Beat No 8

Post, Asbys and Conduit Head to Old Stone Cross Trumpington Road, back to Downing Terrace, Saxon Street, Annersley Place, Ditch Side, back to the Hospital, up Fitzwilliam Street, Trumpington Street to his post.

Beat No 9

Post, Coronation Street, Queen Street, Princes Street back to Coronation Street, Panton Place, Union Road to Princes Street, to Queen Street to Queen Street, Hills Road to Stone Bridge, back to Cambridge Place to his post.

Second Section

Beat No 1

Post, St Andrews Street from University Arms to Hyde Park Corner, East Road, Town Jail back to Regent Street to Regent Terrace, St Andrews Street to Emmanuel Street back to his post.

Beat No 2

Post, Corner of Christs Lane to Emmanuel Street, back again looking down Blue Lion Court, through Brazen George Yard, along the Black Ditch to St Andrews Hill, Slaughterhouse Lane to Mr Hopkins', back over St Andrews Hill to Downing Street, Old Gaol Lane up Downing Street to Emmanuel Street, across Christs College Piaces to Allens Corner, back of Horse and Groom, by Christs College Wall, by Searles Brewhouse to his post.

Beat No 3

Post, Emmanuel Street along Millers Lane to Orchard Street, back of New Square to Sanders' Hot Pie House, part of Eden Street down Prospect Row to Adam and Eve Street to Ward's Gouse, back of Prospect Row by Thackeray's Close, by Parkers Piece to Wheelwright's House, back of Emmanuel College to his post.

Beat No 4

Post, Corner of Redegund Buildings to Jesus College, back through Mann Street to Kings Street, looking to New Court, Kings Court, Sidney Place, Fromants Passage, White Hart Yard and Allans Court, York Street, Short Street, Willow Walk, Willow Place, back of Willow Place, Fair Street, cross the road to Brunswick Walk, down Maids Causeway to Radegund Buildings to his post.

Beat No 5

Post, Corner New Square, back of Eden Street, half Eden Street, Eden Terrace, Burleigh Street to Adam and Eve Street, back of Burleigh Street to Burleigh Walk, to the end of Gold Street, along James Street to Turf's Brewhouse, Brunswick Place, Apthorpe's Lane, Papworth's Lane, up Fair Street to New Square to his post.

Beat No 6

Post, Town Gaol to end of Burleigh Street, down Broad Street and all on the right to Burleigh Street, up Burleigh Street to Adam and Eve Street, to East Road to his post.

Beat No 7

Post, End of Burleigh Street to Turf's Malting, Gold Street, Burleigh Walk, part of Wellington Row, back of Wellington Row to Gloucester Row, Blutcher Row, Staffordshire Place, Gas Lane, round by Smarts' Row to Staffordshire Place, Binders Row, East Road, to his post.

Beat No 8

Post, Sun Street, from Turf's Brewhouse, end of Wellington Row, looking to Claytons Court, Pound Lane to the end of Abbey Street, Providence Row, New Street to the back of the old Gas Works, East Road to his post

Beat 9

Post, George Street from Abbey Street, looking to Browns Court down River Lane to Gas House, up to Mason's Malting, back of the Racehorse, looking up Coldhams Lane, back of Barnwell to the end of Providence Row, Abbey Street to his post.

The Force necessary to perform the police duty by night and day they consider to be;

1 Superintendent at an annual salary of £170
2 Inspectors, each at an annual salary of £65
4 Sergeants at weekly wages each of 18/-
24 Constables at weekly wages of each 16/-

The above Inspectors, Sergeants and Constables are provided with uniforms similar in every respect to those worn by the Metropolitan Police and the Sergeants and Constables are furnished each with a baton, rattle and lantern.

The whole of the men have been selected on account of honesty, sobriety, activity and fitness for their several situations. No person under the age of 21 years nor above the age of 40 years or who is under 5ft 7in in stature has been considered eligible as a Police Constable.

The Committee have hired as Police Station Premises in the middle of the Town which will consist of an office for transacting business, cells for the temporary confinement of prisoners and a residence for an Inspector or Sergeant of Police.

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