Plaque of the Week No.94

You've seen them all over the city: discs, tablets, cameos and plaques commemorating the great and the good of London Town. Every Tuesday we track down a London plaque (Blue or otherwise) and put it centre stage on the London Walks Blog. This week…
Said to be London’s oldest police force – known popularly as the Thames River Police – the Marine Police Force was founded in 1798. They still operate out of their original HQ on historic Wapping High Street – which is where you can find this plaque, presented by the Stepney Historical Trust.
In the late 18th Century, cargo to the value of £500,000 was being stolen from the Pool of London every year. The force was set up on a one-year trial basis only – it has been extended somewhat, of course! – by magistrate Patrick Colquoun, Master mariner John Harriott and utilitarian philosopher. Each man brought his expertise – in the fields of law and order, seafaring and social reform respectively – to found a police force that predates the Metropolitan Police by 31 years and the City of London Police by a decade more.
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