London's Police in 1900

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Arthur H. Beavan, in Imperial London, first published 1901, made a brief survey of London's Police Force at the time:

A few words respecting the police, without whose aid the Courts would have an easy time of it; and the detectives, the wily fowlers who lure into the nets of justice many an unclean bird of crime.

The Peelers In 1827, thanks to Sir Robert Peel, London saw the beginning of its present police force, which superseded the happy-go-lucky system typified by the Bow Street "runners," and the decrepit "Charleys," or watchmen of the past.

The River Police No longer have they to look after the "Rogue Riderhood" type of rascality, nor the "horsemen," mudlarks, scuffle-humters, and other rogues who formerly infested the river, and whose depredations at one time were estimated at over half-a-million sterling annually; but they have plenty to do, for the Thames has still its mysteries and crimes that require unravelling and repression.

Scotland yard Of this class was Mr. Henry Moore, who retired in 1899 after nearly thirty-one years' service, during which period he was prominently concerned in most of the notorious cases that even yet have not died out of public recollection, such as that of Dr. Lamson who poisoned his school-boy cousin; Jack the Ripper; the Langtry jewel case, and the affair of the silver ingot robbery, when he ran a very distinct risk of being killed by the robbers had they penetrated his disguise.