THE CORONATION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 141, 7 August 1911, Page 7

THE CORONATION.

POLICE PROBLEMS. The arrangements made by the English police to cope with the crowd of bad characters wiio flocked to England “for the Coronation” were very complete. Every day the chiefs of the Criminal Investigation Department were notified of the departure of dozens of criminals from foreign ports for London. As far as possible no suspect was permitted to land in England unobserved. A detective shadowed the suspect in port, watched hmij to his train, took the number of his. carriage, and telegraphed particulars to Scotland Yard. At the London terminus another detective took up the work, shadowing the man until ire was established at some address. Under Superintendent Forest’s immediate control were no less than 1000 detectives to cope with the unprecedentedly large number of sharpers who had descended on London. Many of these detectives were men who had been drafted temporarily into the force from the ranks of constables. The most important criminals were dealt with by the experts of the Yard. “At most of the fashionable hotels debonair, well-mannered men are mixing with the visitors, chatting on social affairs, politics, or hooks,” said tho “Daily Mail.” “They are quite charming companions, and always excellent raconto rrs, and they are apparently quite careless and do hot notice anything.'. In reality they are Mr. Freest’s men. Others of them — if they could only be detected—sire tube found at tire theatres and fashionable restaurants. They seertr to have an inclination for the society hf certain foreigners—from whoso appearance one would draw an inference of good standing and prosperity. In .some cases, no doubt, the two sides know each other quite well and play out tho comedy in irreproachably serious fashion. ’’ The Political Department of Scotland Yard was charged with the responsible duty of looking after Royalty. The safety of every foreign representative was carefully guarded from tiro time he landed in England. • Wherever he wont a representative : of Scotland Yard would i»o near at handj though sometimes recognition would have been a difficult matter; -The handling of the , Coronation croiVds was probably the greatest of all problems confronting the police. Two 1 Million people had to ho controlled, without sacrificing the interests, of the, deserted suburbs, and it was estimated that 20,000 men would he on duty in tho city streets on Coronation Day. Arrangements wore made for cyclist an.l, ni.umt. d police to patrol suburban streets in case the enterprising burglar should imagine that tho great day was a particularly suitable time for Jus operations.