SGB Chapter 359

## Chapter 359: Expanding Power

Viscount Melbourne, sensing an opportunity with Lord Brougham present, aimed to discuss the prosecution of the Swin Riot with Arthur.

He knew the best way to convince someone to take on a difficult task was to frame it as an honor.

“A pragmatic approach is always beneficial to work,” Viscount Melbourne said with a smile. “Analyzing specific problems with specific solutions is also my political view. Although I am a Whig, I can support the Tories on certain issues. For example, in the Swin Riot, I choose to stand with Peel.”

Melbourne first mentioned Peel’s name, then talked to Arthur about his rise to prominence.

“It’s been almost two years, but I can still recall the headlines from that time. All the major newspapers on Fleet Street, the public of Britain, and the citizens of London were thrilled to see a police officer standing on the side of truth and justice in court.

This wasn’t just your personal honor, Arthur. That case triggered a chain reaction that ultimately led Parliament to reform the Bloody Code. The 222 capital offenses are now reduced to 56. At least half of this credit belongs to you.”

Arthur couldn’t take credit for Melbourne’s flattery.

As a graduate of the University of London, he was well aware of the history of the movement to abolish the Bloody Code.

Besides Samuel Romilly, the movement’s leader, there were also the Duke of Sussex, Sir Robert Peel, and his mentor, Lord Brougham, among others.

The case of Little Adam was simply a catalyst, coinciding with the turbulent period of passing the Catholic Emancipation Act. Wellington and Peel needed to create a positive image of a righteous Catholic.

Therefore, with their tacit approval and encouragement, Arthur was pushed to the forefront, taking all the credit. This paved his way to success within Scotland Yard.

Knowing his own limitations, when to reach out and when to hold back, was the secret to Arthur’s long stay at Scotland Yard.

Moreover, his mentor, Lord Brougham, the other leader of the movement to abolish the Bloody Code, was present. Whether it was to drag him into the conversation or simply say a few harmless words, Arthur had to acknowledge his mentor’s contribution.

“The movement to abolish the Bloody Code, the abolitionist movement, and the movement for parliamentary reform, all share the same essence. At the end of the last century, people began to raise their voices on these issues. Although the initial supporters were few, after more than thirty years of development, everything seemed to fall into place.

It would be unfair to say that the abolitionist movement was all Wilberforce’s doing, or that abolishing the Bloody Code was all my doing. If I hadn’t received an education at the University of London, as a pig farmer from Yorkshire, I wouldn’t have understood what a movement was, or what the Bloody Code was.”

Arthur turned his gaze to Lord Brougham, smiling. “My first understanding of this movement came from Lord Brougham’s lecture at the university. It was this educational experience that made me a staunch opponent of the Bloody Code, an abolitionist, and at the same time, a supporter of parliamentary reform.”

Arthur’s words brought a shy but proud smile to even Brougham’s usually stoic face.

He walked over to Arthur with two glasses of wine, handing one to him and jokingly said, “Although Thomas and I always believed that the University of London would one day cultivate many pillars of talent for Britain, we never expected to find one already standing out in the first batch of students.”

Arthur took the glass and smiled back. “My Lord, there might be more than one. As far as I know, another outstanding individual from the University of London is sailing the seas of South America right now.”

Brougham raised his eyebrows in amusement. “Oh? I didn’t know that. Do we have students serving in the Royal Navy? Do I know him?”

“You should know him,” Arthur said. “Mr. Eldred Carter, from the Classics department. After graduating, he became a cartographer for the Royal Navy and is currently on a challenging and glorious global scientific expedition on orders from the Admiralty.”

“Eldred Carter…”

Brougham pondered for a moment, then slapped his hand on the table. “I think I have a vague impression of him. After all, it’s not often that a student receives three warnings in one semester. If Mr. Bentham hadn’t been so opposed to the rigid management style of Oxford, the Board of Governors might have expelled him. He’s doing so well now, it seems Mr. Bentham was right. Outstanding individuals are never the ones who follow the rules.”

Arthur didn’t immediately follow Brougham’s praise for Eldred.

He simply sipped his wine.

Others didn’t know how Eldred got those warnings, but Arthur, as a friend, knew the truth.

While Arthur didn’t approve of being a rule follower either, selling pornography and then bribing a professor didn’t seem like a shining achievement.

Viscount Melbourne, seeing Arthur changing the subject, quickly brought it back.

“Although I suspected you were an opponent of the Bloody Code, it’s always reassuring to have confirmation. However, it’s gratifying that you were able to develop a good conscience from your education at the University of London. Unfortunately, I think you may have chosen the wrong college and department.

Judging from your debating skills in court, if you had studied law under Lord Brougham, you would have achieved even greater heights. But luckily, the establishment of the London District Prosecutor’s Office gives us positions like prosecutors, meaning that even without a law degree, you can excel in your area of expertise.

More importantly, if you can make a good showing in the prosecution of the Swin Riot, it will also silence those who believe that the police cannot handle the role of prosecutor. In that case, our nomination of you as Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the London District will be justified.”

Arthur never expected Viscount Melbourne to play a pre-emptive game.

He hadn’t agreed yet, but Melbourne was already laying out his vision for him after the work was done.

Arthur knew that the Home Office was determined to push him into this position.

He couldn’t fight against the tide. Accepting this task wasn’t a bad idea.

Moreover, he didn’t want to ruin his image as a good student in front of Lord Brougham.

Since force wouldn’t work, Arthur thought for a moment and decided to outsmart him from another direction.

“It’s a great honor to be entrusted with this responsibility and privilege. But to prosecute so many people, my personal strength might not be enough. The London District Prosecutor’s Office has only just been established, the number of prosecutors is insufficient, and they are not used to criminal prosecution work. If we want to ensure the quality of the prosecution, we might need to draft some police officers with extensive prosecution experience from Scotland Yard.”

Arthur’s request wasn’t unreasonable, so Viscount Melbourne didn’t intend to refuse.

He nodded. “You’ve thought this through very carefully. If there’s a need for this, I’ll ask Chief Constable Rowan to help coordinate.”

Lord Brougham, seeing his student taking on the difficult task, also said softly, “I haven’t stepped down from the position of President of the British Bar Association yet. If you need lawyers, I can also use my personal connections to help you contact some people.”

Arthur nodded with a smile. “If that’s the case, then I have much more confidence in completing the prosecution.”

At this point, Arthur turned to Viscount Melbourne. “By the way, Your Lordship, I heard that the Home Office is considering the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829, and Scotland Yard may be reorganized?”

Revising laws was something that couldn’t be hidden from others, and Viscount Melbourne didn’t intend to hide it either.

In the eyes of the Home Office, the main obstacle to revising the Metropolitan Police Act lay with the local municipal authorities. Local governments were unwilling to pay an additional security fee without having full control over the newly established local police force.

Arthur’s gunshot in Liverpool, just like his brilliant speech in court, quelled the local opposition to the establishment of a police force.

The previous control measures to quell the Swin Riot also led Viscount Melbourne to a conclusion: crimes committed were not always punished, but those who contributed should be rewarded.

If Arthur, the young man who had solved many problems for him, wanted to make some “reasonable” suggestions during the revision of the Metropolitan Police Act, Viscount Melbourne wouldn’t mind, considering their relationship and Lord Brougham’s presence.

“The revision is currently in the research stage. We’re happy to listen to everyone’s voice, especially those of police officers who have served on the front lines for a long time.”

Viscount Melbourne blinked. “Actually, I’ve already convened a seminar with senior officers from Scotland Yard, but you were in Liverpool then, so your opinion was overlooked. Now’s a good opportunity, why don’t you share your thoughts?”

Arthur didn’t immediately give his opinion, but asked a question. “What suggestions did the other officers give?”

Viscount Melbourne leaned back on the sofa, crossing his legs. “Mainly suggestions on strengthening the professional functions of various departments in Scotland Yard. The current management of Scotland Yard is too loose, the functions of different departments often overlap, and apart from frontline patrol and security, other responsibilities haven’t been clearly defined.

Moreover, when Scotland Yard was first established, it was only positioned as a department for maintaining daily patrol and security in the Greater London area, neglecting the investigation of cases that have a significant impact on the police’s social reputation. In addition, the officers also pointed out the negative impact of deploying troops and military police in riot suppression, suggesting that a department should be established within Scotland Yard to specifically address such situations.

Therefore, in this reorganization of Scotland Yard, we initially believe that we should focus on these two aspects. Arthur, I’m particularly interested in hearing your suggestions on criminal investigation.”

Arthur asked, “Did they mention to you that I once suggested setting up a separate criminal records center, fingerprint department, archives department, and toxicology laboratory under the criminal investigation department?”

“Hmm?”

Viscount Melbourne was a bit dumbfounded when he heard Arthur spit out this string of new terms. “I did hear Rowan suggest merging the London Police Intelligence Bureau and the Criminal Investigation Department. I also think that since they are both police departments, there’s no need to manage them separately, it’s too cumbersome.”

“Merge management?”

Arthur immediately understood Rowan’s intentions when he heard this.

The Police Intelligence Bureau, although nominally a second-tier department of the Greater London Police, was directly funded by the Home Office, without having to go through Scotland Yard.

As everyone knows, if you don’t control a department’s finances, you don’t control anything.

Therefore, the officers working in the Police Intelligence Bureau always ignored Scotland Yard’s orders. They only listened to Arthur Hastings, the Bureau Chief.

Naturally, this situation made others in Scotland Yard unhappy. Given the opportunity, they would naturally find a way to tie up this brother department that was eating police funds but refusing to obey orders.

Seeing that his new department was still in its infancy, but the backyard was about to catch fire, Arthur quickly addressed the key issue.

“Your Lordship, if the Police Intelligence Bureau only deals with police intelligence, then merging management is certainly no problem. But in reality, we handle more than just police intelligence. If we merge management, some things will be unclear.”

“Unclear?” Viscount Melbourne was puzzled. “Do you have other business lines besides police intelligence?”

Arthur could only hint at it, given Lord Brougham’s presence. “You can ask Sir Peel, or the Duke of Wellington and Viscount Palmerston about this. Of course, if you need a detailed report, I’ll have someone compile the Police Intelligence Bureau’s work results for this year and submit them to you when we get back.

If you insist on merging the Police Intelligence Bureau into Scotland Yard, my suggestion is to partially split it. The police intelligence would be merged into the criminal investigation department, and the remaining part would be split into a new department, renamed the London Intelligence Bureau. But in that case, I’m afraid it will be difficult to explain this new system to Parliament and the media.”

Viscount Melbourne understood Arthur’s meaning. He took a sip of wine and flipped open the documents on the table. “Let’s talk about the criminal records center, fingerprint department, archives department, and toxicology laboratory you mentioned earlier. What are they for?”

Seeing that Viscount Melbourne was no longer dwelling on the previous point, Arthur smiled and said, “Actually, I also suggest that you establish a dedicated police detective training school to cultivate professional police officers for Scotland Yard, and establish a police education system to provide a continuous supply of fresh blood for Scotland Yard and local police forces.”

(End of Chapter)