Introduction
Whenever newspapers print letters from anxious correspondents demanding more ‘constables on the beat,’ letters are sure to follow reminding us that patrolling a beat is an archaic model of policing not seen in this country for a generation. But back in 1862, the Metropolitan Police still clung to their founding principle that prevention is better than cure.
A PORTION of the Section, called a Beat, is committed to his care: he is to be previously informed by his Serjeant of the names of the streets, &c., forming his Beat.
The police constable will be held responsible for the security of life and property within his beat, and for the preservation of peace and general good order during the time he is on duty. He should make himself perfectly acquainted with all the parts of his beat or section, with the streets, thoroughfares, courts, and houses. He will be expected to possess such a knowledge of the inhabitants of each house, as will enable him to recognize their persons, so as to prevent mistakes, and to enable him to render assistance to the inhabitants when called for.
He will be able to see every part of his beat, at least once in ten minutes or a quarter of an hour; and this he will be expected to do; so that any person requiring assistance, by remaining in the same spot for that length of time, must certainly meet a constable.
Précis
In their Guidelines for 1862, the Commissioners for the Metropolitan Police described the duties of a constable patrolling a particular beat. They required him to acquaint himself thoroughly with every street, house and household in it, to take responsibility for a safe and orderly neighbourhood, and to visit every part of it at least once every fifteen minutes. (58 / 60 words)
In their Guidelines for 1862, the Commissioners for the Metropolitan Police described the duties of a constable patrolling a particular beat. They required him to acquaint himself thoroughly with every street, house and household in it, to take responsibility for a safe and orderly neighbourhood, and to visit every part of it at least once every fifteen minutes.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: because, besides, despite, just, must, not, unless, whether.
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Word Games
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Duty. Order. Possess.
2 Knowledge. Preservation. Spot.
3 Length. Prevent. Render.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homonyms Find in Think and Speak
Each of the words below has more than one possible meaning. Compose your own sentences to show what those different meanings are.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1. See. 2. Order. 3. Saw. 4. Hold. 5. Court. 6. General.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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