1-150-713 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Low(e) art and whitewash', 1873. Mr Robert Lowe slaps whitewash onto the sturdy figure of a policeman. The British police had been under fire in recent years following various scandals both in London and in the provinces. These ranged from allegations of corruption to incompetence. The service was losing officers faster than they could be recruited due to the poor pay and conditions, and generally the calibre of officers was poor. Sir Robert Lowe had recently been moved from the Exchequer to the Home Office, and, according to Punch, was not getting to grips with the problems of those responsible for safeguarding law and order in Britain. From Punch, or the London Charivari, December 27/1873.