JB/150/303/001

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1 Committee of Finance — P. Colquhoun Esqr 1st Examination

Examination of Patrick Colquhoun Esqre one of the Magistrates of
Police by the Select Committee of the Honorable House of Commons.
on Finance.
5th March 1790

Question

Knowing that you have turned your attention to the means of improving
of improving the Police of the Metropolis. You are desired to state to the
Committee such measures as appear to you to be most expedient for
reducing the Public expenditure on the Subject of Police.

Answer

In stating to the Select Committee the opinions I have formed
respecting the mode of reducing the expense at present incurred in the
various Branches of Police it will be necessary to enter into a Short previous
explanation of the causes from this expenditure previous

1st The expences of the Police from the great and progressive increase of crimes and
from the want of proper regulations tending in a greater degree to prevent
the growing corruption of morals have considerably increased.

2d The expences have also increased in consequence of the System of the Hulks and
Transportation to New South Wales in a very great degree as nearly two
thirds of the aggregate expence arises from the maintenance and
Transportation of Convicts.

3d. These Expenses are increased from the want of a Center point or general
Superintendance, friendly to economical arrangements and competent
to the Task of investigating and carrying into effect those measures which
shall be best calculated to promote the privileges of innocence. — to
Diminish Crimes and thereby lessen the National expence applicable
at present to Objects of Police.

4th These expences have also been a burden upon the Public Revenue for a
longer period than could have been wished in consequence of the unavoidable
delays which have occurred in bringing forward a Bill framed in
1796 for regulating Certain Classes of Persons occupied in Trades
or other pursuits calculated in their Nature to give facility to the
Commission of Crimes from which Source might be obtained a considerable
Revenue for police purposes arising as it were out of
the Vices of the People and calculated in its Nature to destroy
those facilities which at present encourage this increase of Crimes
from the ready means of Disposing of every Article that is pilfered or Stolen.

Identifier: | JB/150/303/001"JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 150.
Date_1	1798-03-05	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	150	Main Headings	police bill
Folio number	303	Info in main headings field	committee of finance - p. colquhoun esqr 1st examination
Image	001	Titles
Category	copy/fair copy sheet	Number of Pages	3
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	f1 / f2 / f3
Penner		Watermarks
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections		Paper Produced in Year
Notes public	see note to letter 1329, vol. 6	ID Number	50524
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