Rogues and Others
eBook“A record of exceptional interest” Truth
The reminiscences of police detective, Charles Arrow.
Arrow joined the London Metropolitan Police as a constable in 1881. He was posted to B division, which then embraced Westminster, Pimlico, Belgravia, and part of Chelsea. He went on to make detective and was placed in charge of the investigation of crime in a West End district. Ultimately, he attained the rank of senior Chief Inspector in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and was one of the original “Big Five” at Scotland Yard.
During his varied career Arrow investigated many cases of fraud, forgery and robbery. He also had considerable experience of policing ‘gaming-clubs’ and investigating cases of blackmail. Unlike many police autobiographies, his doesn’t focus on gruesome crimes. He looks back on the history of policing in London and forward to the modern developments changing policing. The book includes many stories of his experiences with criminals and colleagues, including many of the leading early characters in the CID.
Arrow retired from the Metropolitan Police after twenty-six years of service in 1907. In July of that year he moved to Barcelona to take up a new role organising a detective force in Spain. Arrow was engaged in forming and leading this new detective service to deal specifically with anarchist bomb outrages. This position exposed Arrow to significant media and public attention, much of it critical. Nevertheless, he persevered, establishing “Arrow’s Police” formally known as “La Oficina de Investigación Criminál”. Anarchist outrages reached a climax in the last week of July 1909, known in Barcelona as “The Bloody Week.” Following the quelling down of this revolt and the execution of its leaders, Arrow’s work was considered complete and he returned to England.
First published in 1926. This special edition is published by Lewisham Press, 2021.
Charles Arrow was born in the Parish of Stanwell (near London) in 1861. He was the last surviving member of the original “Big Five” at Scotland Yard and died in Hove, Sussex in 1936.
“We may thank Mr. Arrow for giving us such a pleasant insight into the ways of Scotland Yard and its great ones.” The Bystander
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