Police Gazette (UK)
Encyclopedia
The Police Gazette was a magazine produced in London from 1772 onwards, for circulation among all the police forces of Britain. Its primary purpose was to publish notices of wanted criminals with requests for information, and where appropriate to offer rewards
, chief magistrate of the Bow Street Police Court, in 1772. The publication was renamed 'The Police Gazette' in 1828. Responsibility for its production rested with the Home Office
. Editing was delegated to the Chief Clerk to Bow Street Magistrates Court, notably John Alexander (chief clerk)
who edited the Police Gazette from 1877 until 1895. Responsibility for the Gazette was transferred to Scotland Yard in 1883 .
which began in 1853).
when census and marriage records prove insufficient .
Many of the Supplements between 1914 and 1965 also survive.
- a kind of early precursor of an IntranetIntranetAn intranet is a computer network that uses Internet Protocol technology to securely share any part of an organization's information or network operating system within that organization. The term is used in contrast to internet, a network between organizations, and instead refers to a network...
.
History
'The Quarterly Pursuit' was first issued by John FieldingJohn Fielding
This article is about the London magistrate. For the soldier, see John Williams .Sir John Fielding was a notable English magistrate and social reformer of the 18th century. He was also the younger half-brother of novelist, playwright and chief magistrate Henry Fielding...
, chief magistrate of the Bow Street Police Court, in 1772. The publication was renamed 'The Police Gazette' in 1828. Responsibility for its production rested with the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
. Editing was delegated to the Chief Clerk to Bow Street Magistrates Court, notably John Alexander (chief clerk)
John Alexander (chief clerk)
John Alexander was Chief Clerk to Bow Street Magistrates' Court, then called Bow Street Police Court , and simultaneously, as was then the custom, Editor of the Police Gazette in England from 1877 until his retirement in 1895.John Alexander was born in Wooler, Northumberland, son of country...
who edited the Police Gazette from 1877 until 1895. Responsibility for the Gazette was transferred to Scotland Yard in 1883 .
Structure
The Police Gazette was published as follows :| Section | Frequency | Content |
|---|---|---|
| Main Magazine | Weekly | crimes committed, information wanted |
| Supplement A | Fortnightly | details of active travelling criminals. |
| Supplement B | Weekly | particulars of convicts on licence, persons under police supervision and other wanted people. |
| Supplement C | Fortnightly? | wanted aliens. |
| Supplement D | Fortnightly, (alternating with Supplement A) | absentees and deserters from HM Forces. |
| Supplement E | ? | photographs of active criminals. |
| Supplement F | - | not issued? |
| Supplement G | Daily | deaths of people who had previously appeared in the Police Gazette. |
Circulation
The Police Gazette was intended for circulation throughout the British Isles. Since an archive survives in New South Wales, Australia , the Gazette may also have been circulated in countries governed by Britain around the world. However, local gazettes were printed by states in Australia (see e.g. Victoria Police GazetteVictoria Police Gazette
The Victoria Police Gazette commenced in December 1853 and was initially published weekly by the Victoria Police.Originally the Gazettes for each state were not available to the public, but were produced for informing members of the police force and government officials...
which began in 1853).
Historical value
The Gazette records the history of crime; the role of the police; and major social events such as the 'Transportation' (deportation of criminals) to Australia. The many references to personal names - of missing persons, criminals, army deserters and those deported and imprisoned - make it an important source for genealogyGenealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
when census and marriage records prove insufficient .
Surviving archives
At least 61% of the total run of issues from 1772 to 1900 survives, archived by the initiative of local police forces, as well as by the British Library.Many of the Supplements between 1914 and 1965 also survive.