London's First Police Force Was a Gang?! | The Dark History of the Bow Street Runners

Macabre London

Jun 03, 2025•31 min

--:--

Listen in podcast apps:

Episode description

Before Scotland Yard... before the Met Police... there was chaos.

In this episode of Macabre London, we uncover the wild, booze-soaked origins of Britain's very first police force – the Bow Street Runners. But these weren’t your average crimefighters. Oh no. These were drunken, brawling, and occasionally criminal men who blurred the lines between justice and disorder.

Led by an eccentric magistrate and paid with public funds (and sometimes beer), this ragtag group laid the foundations for modern policing... but not without raising a few eyebrows and knocking out a few teeth along the way.

🔪 Were they heroes? Hooligans? Or something much more complicated?

🕵️‍♀️ Join me as we delve into the weird and bloody history of the 1700s crime-fighting gang who were meant to protect the streets — but often caused just as much trouble.

This episode is sponsored by Little Rick - you can get 10% off your order:

https://littlerick.co.uk/NIKKIMACABRELONDON

And use the offer code:

NIKKIMACABRELONDON

CBD products are not suitable for listeners under the age of 18 or for pregnant or breast feeding people.

------------------------

🔪 If you love British true crime, unsolved mysteries, and historical murders, don’t miss this episode!

-------------------------

Be sure to check out my other podcast, Killers, Cults & Queens https://podfollow.com/queens

---------------------------

SUPPORT ME

————————