The Police Act of 1805 standardised the operation of police forces patrolling Scotland’s burghs and led to the creation of a professional force in Edinburgh.

Previously, retired soldiers formed the town guard and continued to do so until 1817 when they were disbanded. The High Constables of Scotland were also charged with protecting the peace, patrolling Edinburgh’s streets in times of disorder and attending ceremonial duties to protect the king. They continue to exist as an organisation until today, undertaking ceremonial duties.

The surprising thing about policemen in the 19th century is that they were responsible for street pavement repairs and street lights as well as catching criminals. The police force was run by a board of commissioners independent of the council, and in 1831 Edinburgh, a town of 100,000 there were 312 policemen. The police model in Edinburgh followed a Parisian style until William Haining was appointed superintendent of the Edinburgh police.

In 1843 the Edinburgh police force was reorganised by Superintendent Haining, assisted by another London officer called W F N Smith moved from Greenwic,h and at that point, Edinburgh moved to an English style of policing. See Origins of the Metropolitan Police for background on how the London police were organised.

In 1848 the town council expressed concerns that these reforms were not working and appointed Richard Moxey as interim chief superintendent to look into the state of the force and supply regular reports on manpower and effectiveness. (ref – The Scotsman 1848, 9 Feb page 3)

In 1853, the Forbes MacKenzie Act mandated the closure of public houses at 10 pm on weekdays and all day on Sundays. Thomas Linton was the chief Superintendent from 1851. Under his leadership, the Edinburgh police actively cracked down on illegal drinking establishments, conducting stakeouts on known public houses and grocers selling alcohol illicitly. The effectiveness of this legislation was debated in Parliament, where Linton provided evidence. He also initiated the production of crime statistics, noting a considerable reduction in drunkenness following the act’s implementation.

Linton was instrumental in formalising crime reporting within the Edinburgh City Police. He prepared detailed annual reports and statistical returns on crimes, offences, and cases of drunkenness. These reports, covering various years between 1856 and 1878, are preserved in the Edinburgh City Archives.

In 1854, Henry Littlejohn became police surgeon, examined crime scenes, performed autopsies, and provided expert medical testimony in court. He was a pioneer in forensic pathology and toxicology in Scotland.

His work helped police:

• Accurately determine the cause of death
• Assess the timing of injuries
• Identify poisoning and concealed violence

He provided critical evidence in murder trials, strengthening the credibility and success of police prosecutions.

In 1862, he became the first medical officer of health. In his dual role as Edinburgh’s first Medical Officer of Health (from 1862), he carried out a massive survey of housing conditions in 1865. His findings shocked the city: overcrowding, filth, and lack of sanitation were widespread.

This report directly influenced the Edinburgh Improvement Act of 1867, which led to Slum clearances, improved public health infrastructure and a decrease in diseases and criminal activity.