Question

1. Why did people stay in their homes as much as possible? 2. Why did they call the policemen ‘Bow Street Runners’?3. How did “Bow Street Runners” get their name? Police In 1700 London had no policemen at all. A few men protected the city streets at night. Many people were poor and there were so many thieves who stole money in the streets that people stayed in their homes as much as possible. In 1750, Henry Fielding started to pay a group of people to stop thieves. They were like policemen and were called ‘Bow Street Runners’ because they worked near Bow Street. Fifty years later, there were 120 Bow Street Runners, but London had become very big and needed more policemen. In 1829, the first London Police Force was started with 3000 officers. Most of the men worked on foot, but a few rode horses. Today, London police are quite well paid and for the few police officers who still ride horses, the pay is even better than for the others. ​

Answer 1

1. Many people were poor and there were so many thieves who stole money in the streets that people stayed in their homes as much as possible.
2. They called the policemen "Bow Street Runners" because they worked near Bow Street.
3. "Bow Street Runners" got their name because London had become very big and needed more policemen, although there were 120 Bow Street Runners in the city at that moment.

Answer 2

1. People stayed in their homes as much as possible due to the lack of proper law enforcement and the prevalence of crime in 1700 London. The city had no organized police force at that time, and the few individuals responsible for maintaining order during the night were not enough to ensure safety. The streets were plagued by thieves and criminals, making it unsafe for people to venture out freely. Staying at home was a way for individuals to protect themselves and their belongings from the rampant criminal activity.

2. The term "Bow Street Runners" was used to refer to the early group of individuals who were employed by Henry Fielding to address the rising crime rates in London. This term is derived from the location where they operated, which was near Bow Street. Henry Fielding was a magistrate and novelist who established this group of law enforcement officers in the mid-18th century to combat the lack of effective policing. The Bow Street Runners can be considered one of the precursors to the modern police force, and they were named after their base of operations.

3. The "Bow Street Runners" got their name from the location of their headquarters and main operating area, which was near Bow Street in London. Henry Fielding, who was a magistrate and a social reformer, established this group in the 1750s to combat the rampant crime in the city. They were essentially an early form of law enforcement, tasked with investigating crimes, apprehending criminals, and maintaining order. The term "Runners" might have been used because these officers were known for their agility and speed in pursuing and apprehending criminals. Over time, this group evolved and contributed to the development of more organized and professional police forces, eventually leading to the establishment of the London Police Force in 1829.