The Bow Street Runners

What were the Bow Street Runners?

The Bow Street Runners were a team of thief-takers who patrolled the streets of London in the evenings. They also investigated crimes and gave evidence in court.

What did the Bow Street Runners do?

The Bow Street Runners helped combat crime in 6 key ways:

• ❖ They had regular horse and foot patrols in London, which were an effective deterrent.
• ❖ They investigated crimes.
• ❖ They presented evidence in court.
• ❖ They shared information about criminals with each other and with the public.
• ❖ They were more organised, professional and trustworthy than the thief-takers.
• ❖ Funded by a government grant, they introduced a horse patrol for 18 months that ended highway robbery. When it stopped, however, the robbers returned.

How many Bow Street Runners were there?

The number of Bow Street Runners increased during the 1700s in 2 main ways:

• ❖ When the force was first set up, in 1748, there were 6 Bow Street Runners.
• ❖ By 1800, there were 68 Bow Street Runners.

What role did the Fielding brothers play in the Bow Street Runners?

Henry and John Fielding were brothers, and examples of individuals who improved policing. After taking over at Bow Street Magistrates' Court in 1748, they realised more men were needed on London's streets to reduce crime.

What role did Henry Fielding play in the Bow Street Runners?

Henry Fielding played 3 main roles in the Bow Street Runners:

• ❖ Henry Fielding was the founder of the Bow Street Runners.
• ❖ He established a group of six men in 1748, known at first as 'Mr Fielding's People', to deal with crime in the area around Bow Street in London.
• ❖ He set up a newspaper called the Covent Street Journal to keep the public informed about crime and rewards.

What role did John Fielding play in the Bow Street Runners?

John Fielding had 4 important roles in the Bow Street Runners:

• ❖ In 1754 Henry Fielding's brother, John, took over the Bow Street Runners.
• ❖ He extended the force.
• ❖ In 1772 he launched a magazine called Hue and Cry, with information about crime and criminals.
• ❖ At first he charged fees for their services and collected rewards from the victims of crimes if successful convictions were secured.

How were the Bow Street Runners paid?

The method of payment for the Bow Street Runners changed in 3 key ways over time:

• ❖ At first, the Runners were paid one guinea a day by the Fielding brothers.
• ❖ They also took a share of the rewards offered by victims of crime.
• ❖ By 1785, the Runners were officially paid by the government and were the first modern detective force.

How did the Bow Street Runners share information?

There were 4 important ways the Bow Street Runners shared information:

• ❖ Because the Bow Street Runners talked to each other about criminals, Bow Street became a hub of crime intelligence.
• ❖ In 1752, Henry Fielding began to publish the Covent St Journal, with information about crime and rewards in the area.
• ❖ In 1772, John Fielding introduced The Quarterly Pursuit. This contained information about criminals, crime and stolen goods and was circulated to magistrates and the public, helping to create a national network of information.
• ❖ The Quarterly Pursuit later became known as Hue and Cry.

Why were the Bow Street Runners significant?

The Bow Street Runners, and the Fielding brothers' approach, was significant for 4 main reasons:

• ❖ The crime rate in Bow Street fell while conviction rates increased. This proved a paid policing force was more effective than unpaid constables.
• ❖ The success of the Bow Street Runners led to more detective offices being set up in Middlesex and Westminster. In 1792, the Middlesex Justices Act set up further offices, each with 6 constables.
• ❖ The success of the Fielding's horse patrol led to a new patrol of 54 men being set up in 1805.
• ❖ Inspired by the Fieldings, the Thames River Police was set up in 1798.

How were the Bow Street Runners limited?

The influence of the Bow Street Runners was limited in 2 key ways:

• ❖ The Bow Street Runners' work and influence was limited to parts of London - the old policing system remained almost everywhere else.
• ❖ In addition, there was still no overall coordination between the different parts of law enforcement.