Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1837-1859 (Creation)
Level of description
Extent and medium
0.16 linear metres (1 volume).
Context area
Name of creator
Biographical history
An Act of 1792 established seven 'Public Offices' (later Police offices and Police courts) in the central Metropolitan area. The aim was to establih fixed locations where 'fit and able magistrates' would attend at fixed times to deal with an increasing number of criminal offences.
Offices were opened in St Margaret Westminster, St James Westminster, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Shadwell and Southwark. An office in Bow Street, Covent Garden, originally the home of the local magistrate, had been operating for almost 50 years and was largely the model for the new offices.
In 1800 the Marine Police Office or Thames Police Office, opened by 'private enterprise' in 1798, was incorporated into the statutory system. In 1821 an office was opened in Marylebone, apparently replacing the one in Shadwell.
Each office was assigned three Justices of the Peace. They were to receive a salary of £400 per annum. These were the first stipendiary magistrates. Later they were expected to be highly qualified in the law, indeed, to be experienced barristers. This distinguished them from the local lay justices who after the setting up of Police Offices were largely confined, in the Metropolitan area, to the licensing of innkeepers. In addition each office could appoint up to six constables to be attached to it.
The commonly used term of 'Police Court' was found to be misleading. The word 'police' gave the impression that the Metropolitan Police controlled and administered the courts. This was never the case, the word 'police' was being used in its original meaning of 'pertaining to civil administration', 'regulating', etc.
In April 1965 (following the Administration of Justice Act 1964) the London Police Courts with their stipendiary magistrates were integrated with the lay magistrates to form the modern Inner London Magistrates' Courts.
The police courts dealt with a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.
Offences beyond the powers of the Court would normally be passed to the Sessions of the Peace or Gaol Delivery Sessions in the Old Bailey (from 1835 called the Central Criminal Court). From the late 19th century such cases would be the subject of preliminary hearings or committal proceedings in the magistrates' courts.
Outside the London Police Court Area but within the administrative county of Middlesex lay justices continued to deal with both criminal offences and administrative matters such as the licensing of innkeepers.
The exact area covered by a Court at any particular time can be found in the Kelly's Post Office London Directories, available on microfilm at LMA. The entries are based on the original Orders-in-Council establishing police court districts. A map showing police court districts is kept in the Information Area of LMA with other reference maps. Please ask a member of staff for assistance.
Repository
Archival history
GB 0074 ACC/1915 1837-1859 Collection 0.16 linear metres (1 volume). Edmonton Petty Sessional Division
An Act of 1792 established seven 'Public Offices' (later Police offices and Police courts) in the central Metropolitan area. The aim was to establih fixed locations where 'fit and able magistrates' would attend at fixed times to deal with an increasing number of criminal offences.
Offices were opened in St Margaret Westminster, St James Westminster, Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Whitechapel, Shadwell and Southwark. An office in Bow Street, Covent Garden, originally the home of the local magistrate, had been operating for almost 50 years and was largely the model for the new offices.
In 1800 the Marine Police Office or Thames Police Office, opened by 'private enterprise' in 1798, was incorporated into the statutory system. In 1821 an office was opened in Marylebone, apparently replacing the one in Shadwell.
Each office was assigned three Justices of the Peace. They were to receive a salary of £400 per annum. These were the first stipendiary magistrates. Later they were expected to be highly qualified in the law, indeed, to be experienced barristers. This distinguished them from the local lay justices who after the setting up of Police Offices were largely confined, in the Metropolitan area, to the licensing of innkeepers. In addition each office could appoint up to six constables to be attached to it.
The commonly used term of 'Police Court' was found to be misleading. The word 'police' gave the impression that the Metropolitan Police controlled and administered the courts. This was never the case, the word 'police' was being used in its original meaning of 'pertaining to civil administration', 'regulating', etc.
In April 1965 (following the Administration of Justice Act 1964) the London Police Courts with their stipendiary magistrates were integrated with the lay magistrates to form the modern Inner London Magistrates' Courts.
The police courts dealt with a wide range of business coming under the general heading of 'summary jurisdiction', i.e. trial without a jury. The cases heard were largely criminal and of the less serious kind. Over the years statutes created many offences that the courts could deal with in addition to Common Law offences. Examples include: drunk and disorderly conduct, assault, theft, begging, possessing stolen goods, cruelty to animals, desertion from the armed forces, betting, soliciting, loitering with intent, obstructing highways, and motoring offences. Non-criminal matters included small debts concerning income tax and local rates, landlord and tenant matters, matrimonial problems and bastardy.
Offences beyond the powers of the Court would normally be passed to the Sessions of the Peace or Gaol Delivery Sessions in the Old Bailey (from 1835 called the Central Criminal Court). From the late 19th century such cases would be the subject of preliminary hearings or committal proceedings in the magistrates' courts.
Outside the London Police Court Area but within the administrative county of Middlesex lay justices continued to deal with both criminal offences and administrative matters such as the licensing of innkeepers.
The exact area covered by a Court at any particular time can be found in the Kelly's Post Office London Directories, available on microfilm at LMA. The entries are based on the original Orders-in-Council establishing police court districts. A map showing police court districts is kept in the Information Area of LMA with other reference maps. Please ask a member of staff for assistance.
These records were donated by The Chief Constable of Suffolk, Force Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 7QS, on 17 November 1990.
Records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division, comprising minutes of summary proceedings held at Watch House and Angel Inn, Edmonton, 2 Jan 1837 - 21 Dec 1838. Cases heard include felonies, assault, larceny, highway offences, retailing beer etc. without licence, obstruction, injury to property etc. Volume records detailed statements by witnesses, statutes governing cases, outcome of each case. At rear of volume is a summary of cases heard with details of fines etc. Name index at front of volume. Volume also includes records of medical prescriptions prepared for named persons, January 1859.
One volume
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London
English
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
For further records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division see PS/E.
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. November 2009 to February 2010 Edmonton Enfield Edmonton Petty Sessional Division Court papers Information sources Records and correspondence Court records Records (documents) Legal systems Law Legal history Legal procedure Petty sessions Administration of justice Courts London England UK Western Europe Europe
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
These records were donated by The Chief Constable of Suffolk, Force Headquarters, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 7QS, on 17 November 1990.
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division, comprising minutes of summary proceedings held at Watch House and Angel Inn, Edmonton, 2 Jan 1837 - 21 Dec 1838. Cases heard include felonies, assault, larceny, highway offences, retailing beer etc. without licence, obstruction, injury to property etc. Volume records detailed statements by witnesses, statutes governing cases, outcome of each case. At rear of volume is a summary of cases heard with details of fines etc. Name index at front of volume. Volume also includes records of medical prescriptions prepared for named persons, January 1859.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
One volume
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998
Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright to these records rests with the Corporation of London
Language of material
- English
Script of material
- Latin
Language and script notes
English
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
For further records of Edmonton Petty Sessional Division see PS/E.
Finding aids
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Publication note
Notes area
Note
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
- Personnel
- Administration of justice » Courts
- Administration of justice
- Administration of justice » Legal procedure
- Law » Legal history
- Law
- Law » Legal systems
- Information sources
- Information sources
- Law » Legal systems
- Law
- Law » Legal history
- Administration of justice » Legal procedure
- Administration of justice
- Administration of justice » Courts
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Language(s)
- English