Regency Man Monday - Bow Street Runners

Bow Street Magistrates' Court in London

I've been fascinated with the Bow Street Runners since reading about them in the (many) Regency Romances I enjoy. Namely Lisa Kleypas's Bow Street Runners series.

Quick Facts:

• Founded in 1749 by Henry Fielding
• Originally consisted of 6 members
• They were the private force for the Bow Street magistrates' office
• They served writs and arrested offenders under the authority of the magistrates
• They traveled all over England to apprehend criminals
• Considered to be London's first professional police force
• Disbanded in 1839
• The group was the basis for the guiding principles for the establishment of force to control street life and make London safer

Further Reading:

Bow Street Runners - Wikipedia

Policing in London - Old Bailey Online

Bow Street Runners, Legends and Facts - Historical Hussies

Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police - Jane Austen Centre

The Blind Beak of Bow Street by John Dashney - National Federation of the Blind (about John Fielding, Henry's brother who took over after Henry's death)

The First English Detectives: The Bow Street Runners and the Policing of London, 1750-1840 by J. M. Beattie - Oxford Scholarship (this is a book and this link gives you an overview of the contents of the book)