POLICE CONTROL OF STREET PROSTITUTION IN VICTORIAN LONDON - A STUDY IN THE CONTEXTS OF POLICE ACTION (FROM POLICE AND SOCIETY, 1977 BY DAVID H BAYLEY - SEE NCJ-44651)

• NCJ Number: 44653
• Author(s): R D STORCH
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 24 pages
• Corporate Author: Sage Publications, Inc; University of Denver
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Historical Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

POLICE POLICY AND PRACTICES IN REGARD TO STREET PROSTITUTION IN LONDON DURING THE 19TH CENTURY ARE EXAMINED, WITH EMPHASIS ON RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE POLICE AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFLUENCE IN VICTORIAN SOCIETY.

Abstract

AMONG THE MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND CONTINUING CONCERNS OF THE VICTORIAN POLICE WERE THE MAINTENANCE OF ORDER AND DECORUM IN ALL PUBLIC SPACES AND THE IMPOSITION OF NEW STANDARDS OF URBAN DISCIPLINE. THE WIDESPREAD EXISTENCE OF PROSTITUTION IN PARTS OF LONDON WAS A THREAT TO ORDER AND DECORUM IN THE STREETS. IN ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL STREET PROSTITUTION, LONDON POLICE WERE CONSTRAINED BY THE LAW. PROSTITUTION OR SOLICITATION WERE NOT OFFENSES IN THEMSELVES; IT WAS NECESSARY TO SHOW THAT THE ARRESTED PERSON WAS A 'COMMON PROSTITUTE' WHO LOITERED IN PUBLIC PLACE FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION AND TO THE ANNOYANCE OF INHABITANTS OR PASSERS-BY. OFTEN MAGISTRATES WOULD NOT CONVICT ON THE EVIDENCE OF POLICE ALONE AND FLUCTUATED IN THEIR INTERPRETATION OF 'ANNOYANCE.' IN DEALING WITH STREET PROSTITUTION, POLICE WERE SUBJECT TO PRESSURES OF THE PRESS AND OF PUBLIC OPINION, AS WELL AS TO THE SPORADIC BUT INTENSE PRODDING OF ORGANIZED REFORM GROUPS. THE POLICE WERE ALSO INFLUENCED BY THE ATTITUDE OF THE CURRENT HOME SECRETARY, WHO HIMSELF WAS SUBJECT TO PUBLIC PRESSURES. THE POLICE AUTHORITIES FOUND IT NECESSARY TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMPLEX INTERPLAY AMONG THEMSELVES, THE PRESS, THE MAGISTRATES, AND THE GOVERNMENT IN ORDER TO PROTECT THEIR OWN VERSION OF THE POLICE MISSION, TO MAINTAIN THE MORALE OF CONSTABLES, AND TO CONSERVE RESOURCES FOR OTHER TYPES OF POLICE WORK. BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE REFUSED TO CHANGE THE LAW REGARDING STREET SOLICITATION, POLICE POLICY AND PRACTICES CONTINUED TO BE MOLDED BY THE OCCASIONAL DEMANDS OF MAGISTRATES AND SOCIAL PURITY ADVOCATES THAT GREATER INITIATIVES BE TAKEN, BY CRITICISM FROM THE PRESS AND PUBLIC WHEN ANTIPROSTITUTION CAMPAIGNS WERE WAGED, AND BY THE GENERAL TOLERANCE OF THE 'SOCIAL EVIL' THAT CHARACTERIZED LONDON UNTIL THE 1890'S. NOTES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED).