Thomas Linton joined the police force early in life and rose through the ranks to become Chief Superintendent in April1851 after the death of Richard Moxey that year.

The Forbes MacKenzie Act of 1853 introduced major reforms to drinking in Scotland and public houses were told to close at 10pm on weekdays and all day Sunday. The Edinburgh police were directed by Thomas Linton to crack down on drinking staking out well known public houses and grocers who sold drinks, The effectiveness of this legislation was debated in parliament and Mr Linton was asked to give his evidence.

He started producing statistics on crimes and the incidence of drunkeness reduced considerably after this legislation.