Shadow of great britain

In the early morning, the wheels drove through the streets of Westminster, causing a splash of water.

Arthur stood on the foggy and rainy streets of Whitehall. Looking up, he could see countless gentlemen and ladies walking on the road holding umbrellas.

He exhaled a white breath, took off his gloves, and was about to push open the door of the Metropolitan Police Department, but before he could step in, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Arthur?"

Arthur turned his head and looked around. Behind him stood an old gentleman wearing leather gloves and holding a black umbrella. He was strong and energetic.

Arthur looked at the old gentleman with gray sideburns and couldn't help but smile: "Mr. Judge? Are you getting off work so early today?"

"It's not that I got off work early, it's that I retired." The magistrate laughed and said: "Congratulations, Arthur, I finally said goodbye to that damn court, and can go back to the country with my retirement annuity and enjoy life."

Arthur smiled and said: "This is indeed something worthy of congratulations. I have to say that I really envy your life. There are not many departments that can enjoy retirement annuity. I can only pray to God now. Hopefully, by the time I retire, Scotland Yard will have a retirement annuity in place."

The magistrate laughed loudly and said: "You probably don't know that magistrates were not eligible to enjoy pensions at the beginning. When the retirement annuity system was first established in 1590, only retired officers of the Royal Navy could enjoy this treatment.

Later, Congress included the Army into this system. By the 17th and 18th centuries, public and civil departments such as clerks in various government departments and magistrates' courts also began to enjoy this benefit.

In my opinion, police officers will also have pensions sooner or later. As you know, the government is very practical now. As long as you can create benefits and make them feel that Scotland Yard plays a much greater role than the funds they provide, then sooner or later the Parliament and the Cabinet will consider giving Scotland Yard police officers A decent retirement life.

Arthur, do you remember what I said to you before? With you here, everything will be fine. You are a natural police officer. Look at how many big cases you have solved this year. If Scotland Yard lacked capable people like you, everyone in the Ministry of Internal Affairs would probably be blinded. "

When Arthur heard this, he just shrugged half-jokingly and said: "I don't dare to ask for any pension now. I just ask them to quickly make up for the half-year performance bonus at Scotland Yard."

The magistrate heard this and said in shock: "Is the Ministry of Internal Affairs still suppressing your performance bonus?"

Arthur smiled helplessly: "Isn't it? You should know that Scotland Yard's funds all come from local security taxes, but every time Director Rowan goes to the Ministry of the Interior to ask the Secretary of State for money, the reply we get is always:' Since it is difficult to collect the security tax in some dioceses, the basic salary can only be temporarily issued. As for the performance bonus in the first half of the year, you need to wait for a while."

The magistrate frowned and said: "If the taxes are not coming in? What does the Ministry of Finance do for a living? These bastards, apart from collecting their salary every day, they really don't do anything. And the Ministry of Internal Affairs doesn't take you seriously. Why don't you know how to go to the Ministry of Finance to urge it?

I think those guys are probably used to the benefits brought by Scotland Yard, and think this is what you should do. If one day you suddenly give them up and quit, then those arrogant guys with their noses in the sky will know what it means to be powerful. "

Arthur raised his eyebrows, pursed his lips and smiled: "You guessed it right, I heard that the gentlemen from the Ministry of Internal Affairs seemed to have given us a nickname for Scotland Yard in private."

"Nickname? What nickname?"

Arthur sighed and warmed his hands: "I heard that they call us 'blue-skinned animals'."

"Blue-skinned animals?" The magistrate sneered when he heard this, picked up his cane and slammed it on the wet floor tiles: "It's really unreasonable! They don't do things themselves, but they talk so much when they see others doing things?"

Arthur raised his hand to signal the old judge not to be so angry: "It's no big deal. I guess it's probably because Scotland Yard's collective salary increase a while ago made them unhappy. Originally, the security tax was used to maintain the daily operations of Scotland Yard. It's very tight, so Scotland Yard's share of salary increases is drawn from the office funds of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. If they take other people's money, they can't be happy.

Forget it, let's not talk about these depressing things. Mr. Judge, you are about to retire. Having said that, I really can't bear to part with you. After all, when I first came to Scotland Yard, I dealt with you almost every day. It's always sad to see a talented and responsible colleague leave. "

The magistrate felt refreshed when he heard this compliment. He smiled and replied: "It's no big deal. The person who succeeds me will definitely do a better job than me and will never cause any trouble to you Scotland Yard." .”

"Huh? Has the new judge been chosen?"

The magistrate joked: "Perhaps you can consider going to the four major London bar associations for training. It just so happens that your academic qualifications are also in line with the admission qualifications of the four major bar associations. Although you are not a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge, you are still a university degree after all."

And I've been working here for so many years, and I'm a bit thin-faced anyway. Why don't I show off my old face and let them keep this position for you for a few years. Although this job is not as easy as Scotland Yard, the salary is not bad. After all, the annual income is 1,000 pounds. "

Arthur also knew that the other party was joking, so he responded with the same joke: "If that's the case, you might as well put this job up for sale. I guess there will be many people willing to pay a high price for it. After that, you can I used the money from selling my position to pay for my tuition fees at the four major law firms. The tuition fee is three hundred pounds a year, which is not what a 'blue-skinned animal' like me can afford."

"Hahaha." The magistrate laughed and said, "Goodbye then, Arthur, and good luck to you."

Arthur took off his hat and said goodbye to him: "I also wish you a satisfactory retirement life."

After parting with the magistrate, Arthur breathed a sigh of relief and opened the door of the Metropolitan Police Department.

"Good morning, Superintendent Hastings."

"Well, good morning..."

While greeting his busy colleagues, Arthur walked through the corridors and front halls with familiar paths, climbed the steps and arrived in front of the office door.

As soon as he entered the door, he saw several police inspectors who had been waiting here stood up and saluted him.

"Superintendent Hastings."

Arthur glanced at them: "You're all quite early."

The police inspectors all said with smiles on their faces: "We are all used to it."

Arthur didn't talk nonsense with them. Instead, he untied his scarf, took off his coat, and hung it on the coat rack in the office. Then he grabbed his tight white shirt and came to his office chair.

Arthur pulled out a few documents from the files piled on his desk. He held the documents and said, "We have this police meeting every week. I believe you are all tired of hearing those polite words. So, some I’ll keep the important things short and don’t interrupt your daily work.”

The police inspectors straightened their backs and sat on their chairs. Since Arthur didn't want to make a long speech, of course they were happy to end it as soon as possible.

Arthur glanced at them, held the manuscript and read: "Today I am mainly going to read out a few documents to you. One is about the promotion of several police officers who have outstanding performance in the Hyde Park riots and in recent months.

First, a written application was submitted by Arthur Hastings, Superintendent of Greenwich Police District and Tower Hamlets Police District of the London Metropolitan Police. It was approved by the senior police meeting of the Greater London Police Department and the Ministry of Home Affairs Official approval was given to promote three patrol officers, Tony Eckhart, Tom Flanders, and Charles Field, to detectives with the rank of sergeant.

Before the vacancy of sergeants occurs in the police districts under the jurisdiction of the London Metropolitan Police, three new sergeants are temporarily incorporated into the London Regional Provisional Bureau of Survey and Survey Statistics to assist the Greater London Police Department in completing the street mapping work in East London.

Secondly, in order to continue to improve the cultural quality of police officers, especially to solve the problem of the lack of police officers with inspection and prosecution capabilities in the police district, and in response to the call for a rejuvenation of the police force put forward by Home Secretary Sir Peel, the police district has formulated plans for next week Go to the University of London to find suitable graduates to join the police force.

After you go back, sort out the vacancies of civilian personnel in the sub-jurisdictions and report back to me. After all, you all know how we are treated. Although the University of London has not been awarded a royal charter, the graduates are still college students. It is okay to let them patrol the streets occasionally. If they go often, everyone will probably leave within a few months. It's over.

After all, there are not many fools like me these days. Even fools like me almost ended up in the Royal Navy, let alone those smarter than me. "

After hearing this, the police inspectors couldn't help but smile and said: "Superintendent Hastings, please don't belittle yourself. It's rare to reach this position at such a young age."

"Really?" Arthur joked, holding the materials in his hand: "Isn't there one in front of you?"

Another police inspector stood up and raised his own doubts: "Superintendent Hastings, I think it may be difficult for us to recruit graduates from the University of London. You just mentioned it. With our treatment..."

Another police inspector crossed his arms, raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "That's right, our salary is so good that we can only recruit Oxford and Cambridge. London University is a bit difficult."

Arthur glanced at him with a smile: "Well said. I have also considered the question you asked. Anyway, this year's funds are a bit richer, so I might as well use part of it as a prosecutorial subsidy. Every day in court that week, If the salary is increased by one shilling, anyone who can stand up in the magistrate's court and straighten his words will be able to get the money. This is considered fair. And in this way, those who used to be hesitant and unwilling to go to court will get the money. The judge and jury should be willing to consider this matter."

The police inspectors nodded repeatedly: "This is a good method."

Arthur turned to the next page of the document in his hand and suddenly covered his forehead as if he had a headache: "The last thing, of course, is about the maintenance of order in the venue for the new parliamentary election. You should also understand that every When the new king comes to the throne, parliament will hold a re-election. However, the situation of this election is different from the past. Everyone should know how lively London is these days. Nothing can happen at this stage, otherwise we will wait for the new election. The cabinet has come up and it’s up to us to make it easier..."