Henry & John Fielding

And the Bow Street Runners

Jun 24, 2008 Joseph Allen McCullough

Together the brothers Henry and John Fielding created London's first police force.

Henry Fielding

Although best remembered as a satirist and the author of the novel Tom Jones, Henry Fielding (1707-1754) also served for a time as the chief magistrate of London, a position at which he excelled. While developing a reputation as an honest, incorruptable, and fair judge, Fielding worked to improve the public condition. He worked hard to get the citizenry to report crime and to give descriptions of criminals. He also tried to improve prison conditions. However, his biggest contribution to the field of law came in 1753 when he established the Bow Street Runners.

The Bow Street Runners

Knowing the problem of London crime was too big for one man, Henry Fielding enlisted the aid of six men, all of whom had served time as parish constables, a position perhaps best described as town watchman. These six men soon proved their worth by catching so many criminals through simple investigation that Fielding hired them on a permanent basis. Although these men wore no uniforms, they quickly became known and feared by criminals. Because they operated out of the magistrates office on Bow Street, they became known as the Bow Street Runners.

Sir John Fielding

In 1953 Henry Fielding died and was replaced as London’s chief magistrate by his assistant and younger half-brother John Fielding. John Fielding had been blinded as a teenager in a naval accident, but afterward had devoted himself to the study of law and crime. Under his guidance, seven more magistrates courts were established in London, each with its own set of Runners. John was nicknamed “The Blind Beak” and it is said that he could recognize 3,000 different criminals by the sound of their voice. John Fielding was eventually knighted for his efforts.

Bow Street Horse Patrol

In 1763, John Fielding expanded his force again and created a ten man group known as the Bow Street Horse Patrol that roamed the streets from horseback in the vicinity of Charing Cross and proved the primary factor in ridding London of highwaymen. Unlike the Runners, the Horse Patrol dressed in blue uniforms, and they were armed. Each man carried a truncheon, a pistol, and a sabre.

By 1780 the Horse Patrol had proved so successful that they were disbanded. However, soon after, mass riots broke out in London which caused the government to massively rethink the way in which law enforcement was handled.

Primary Information for this article obtained from The Victorian Policeman by Simone Dell, Shire Publications, 2004

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