Scotland in the nineteenth century

2. Crime and punishment

Section 2.7: Police

A return from the Scottish burghs confirming if they had adopted the Burghs and Police Scotland Act, 1833. The date of adoption of the Act was recorded and if it had been adopted in whole or in part and any expenses incurred.

"appointed to consider the expediency of adopting a more uniform system of police in England and Wales, and Scotland..."

John Thomas Gordon, Sheriff of Edinburgh, gave evidence on policing in Scotland (pp. 129-135). He explained that the system in Scotland was different from that in England. Large cities, for example Edinburgh and Glasgow had police statutes of their own, while the counties had a choice under the on how to proceed. Not all the counties formed a police force, it being up to the Commissioners of supply landowners of individual counties. Mid Lothian, Aberdeenshire, Fifeshire, Stirlingshire and Dumfriesshire were among those counties to adopt the Act. The Mid Lothian force consisted of 31 men and was run by a police committee appointed by the County Commissioners.

The police force was thought to have a very good effect on maintaining order. Lanarkshire had no police, and a number of thieves, living in Lanarkshire, were known to cross into Mid Lothian to commit crimes. If police were needed in Lanark they had to be sent for from Glasgow. In those counties which had not adopted the County Police Act some of the parishes had their own constables and a few had sheriff officers. But Gordon considered a permanent full-time police force was needed for all Scotland.

Evidence was heard from Alfred John List, Superintendent of the Mid Lothian County Police (pp. 100-108). He explained that his force of only 31 men meant there was one policeman to every 2,027 citizens, but that this was not enough to establish a night watch (p. 100). List wanted a bigger police force because of Mid Lothian's proximity to Edinburgh where the city force was not well organised.

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James Stuart the Superintendent of Glasgow police, gave evidence on the city police force (pp. 108-113). The post of Superintendent was appointed by the Lord Provost, the magistrates of the city and the Sheriff of the county. The Superintendent was then free to appoint the police force of 600.

The city population of Glasgow had reached 347,000 and the police force had been increased to keep up with this trend.

The Glasgow police was also used for local policing in the County of Lanarkshire; sending men to help at strikes, collieries, races, meetings and elections.

Evidence on the policing of the 1848 Chartist riots in Glasgow (p. 111).

Evidence on the policing of the Chartist riots in Edinburgh (p. 102).

The return included information on certain English towns and Edinburgh and Glasgow (p. 5), including the rateable value of each city, the amount a police rate would raise and the rate in the pound, the population of the city and the number of police.

The return lists the qualifications necessary for a police constable, for example, age and ability to read and write. Also the clothing that must be provided, the level of pay and how the police force should be organised.

The report was made after the passing of the Police (Scotland) Act, 1857 and it was found that 32 counties and 57 burghs maintained their own police forces. Some of the small burghs had united with counties, while many of the large towns had totally reorganised their police forces, e.g. Greenock and Paisley, others, e.g. Edinburgh and Glasgow increased their rates of pay.

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Perth and Kilmarnock were picked out as being particularly deficient in policing, though in general, the worst offenders were the burghs with less than 5,000 people.

Details of pay and service (pp. 4-5). Individual county and burgh reports (pp. 11-68).

The witnesses discussed suitable ages for retirement and the superannuation scheme proposed by the Police (Scotland) Bill, by which policemen were to contribute one-fifth of their pensions by a deduction of two and a half from their pay. Superannuation schemes for the police in Scotland had only existed in Greenock before 1890. Many advocated the adoption of a fixed pension scale by all local authorities. Some objections were, however, voiced to the principle of compulsory superannuation.