RIVER POLICE The Story of Scotland Yard's Little Ships

Hardback. This is the story of the Sailor Policemen of the Thames. These policemen operated from 1798 when criminal gangs held a strangle-hold on the commerce of the Capital and river pirates held undisputed sway on the tideway. Fostered by bribery, corruption and commercial chicanery, crime prospered, and London paid the inevitable toll of gangster domination. The book tells of the eventual triumph of the forces of law and order over organised villainy, and at the ti me, the greatest pitched battle ever waged between "cops and robbers" anywhere in these islands. The author, a former Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard, commanded the River Force during the war years, and for some time after. An interesting change from the thousands of 'inland' police memoirs. Illus. 263pp. small 8vo. h/back. Lightly foxed and browned edges o/w Vg. in notched and frayed Fair only dw. (see image)