Type Newspaper Headquarters London | Founded 1772-? | |
 | ||
Owner(s) College of Policing
Home Office | ||
The Police Gazette; or, Hue and Cry, also known as The Police Gazette and Hue and Cry, is a bi-monthly publication produced by the College of Policing in London. It was originally a weekly newspaper produced by the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police Service from 1772. Its primary purpose is to publish notices of wanted criminals with requests for information, and where appropriate to offer rewards.
Contents
History
The Quarterly Pursuit was first issued by John Fielding, chief magistrate of the Bow Street Police Court, in 1772. It was distributed free until 1793, when the following announcement was made:
Hue and Cry, and Police Gazette, Has for many Years been sent, gratis, by the Chief Magistrate in Bow-Street, to the Principal Acting Justices of the Peace and other Persons connected with the Administration of Criminal Justice in different parts of England. It has been thought that this Paper would conduce more to the Design of its first Institution, if it was made more generally Public; which cannot be done, without exposing it to Sale, like the London Gazette and other Newspapers, it has accordingly been determined, that in future it shall be sold by the Hawkers and other Newscarriers in Town and Country, at the usual Price of other Newspapers. The Hue and Cry is at present published Every Other Saturday.
Changes of title
The publication was repeatedly renamed, first to Public Hue and Cry. It became The Hue and Cry, and Police Gazette on 30 September 1797. It was renamed to Police Gazette; or, Hue and Cry on 18 January 1828. It became simply The Police Gazette on 1 April 1839.
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 Police Gazette was transferred to the Metropolitan Police ('Scotland Yard') in 1883.
In recent years, responsibility for publication transferred to the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), and then subsequently to the College of Policing.
Stated purpose
The purpose of the publication was stated on the front page in 1831 as follows:
Containing the Substance of all Informations received in Cases of Felonies, and Misdemeanors of an aggravated nature, and against Receivers of Stolen Goods, reputed Thieves and Offenders escaped from Custody, with the time, the place, and every particular circumstance marking the Offence. The Names of Persons charged, who are known but not in Custody, and of those who are not known, their Appearance, Dress, and every other mark of identity that can be described. The Names of Accomplices and Accessories, with every other particular that may lead to their Apprehension. The Names of all Persons brought before the Magistrates, charged with any of the Offences mentioned, and whether committed for Trial, Re-examination, or how otherwise disposed of. Also a Description of Property that has been Stolen, and particularly of Stolen Horses, with as much particularity as can be given, with every circumstance that may be useful for the purpose of Tracing and Recovering it.
Structure
Historically, The Police Gazette was published as follows:
Circulation
The Police Gazette is circulated throughout the British Isles. Since an archive survives in New South Wales, Australia, the Police 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 Gazette which began in 1853).
Historical value
The Police Gazette recorded the history of crime; the role of the police; and major social events such as the penal transportation 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 genealogy when census and marriage records prove insufficient.
Surviving archives
The National Police Library holds all issues of The Police Gazette from the late 1700s to the present day. As this publication is considered to contain restricted information, only serving UK police can access it. UK police can also access an online archive of issues dating from 2002–present via POLKA (Police OnLine Knowledge Area).
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.