The following are examples of stories from the digitised section of the Booth collection at the LSE, describing some of the leisure activities encountered on walks with police officers in the period of the late 1890's.

Amusements of Bethnal Green from Walk with Inspector Pearn, District 10 [Bethnal Green East], 30 December 1897 in Booth B349, p237.

Artists Colony, Elm Tree Road, Hampstead from Walk with Sergeant Simmonds, District 20 [Hampstead], District 21 [Marylebone (Christchurch to St John)], 2 December 1898 in Booth B357, pp209-211.

Influence of Earls Court Exhibition from Interview with Mr Charles Hunt, Superintendent of the T. or Hammersith division, District 30 [Hammersmith], 24 March [1899] in Booth B361, pp239-241.

Skittles match in the cellar of a coffee tavern, Hornsey Road from Walk with H.G. Mankin round parts of Islington and Holloway and Goswell Road, 11 December [1897] in Booth B349, p103. Transcription: A staircase led down from the far end of the shop to a cellar converted into a skittle alley. Here was a thick crowd of a rough class. Young lads of 16 to 18 and men of 30 to 40.

Drinking at Millwall Football Club from Walk with Mr Carter, District Inspector of Police, District 11 [Poplar and Limehouse], 28 May 1897 in Booth B346, p23. Transcription: Occasional licence is no longer granted to supply beer on the athletic ground during football matches. This has diminished drinking on match days as there are many more people who would drink than can be supplied on the premises.

Visit to a Musical Hall in Woolwich in Booth B371, pp215-217.

Earls Court exhibitions from Walk with Inspector King, District 27 [Brompton], District 28 [Kensington Town], 24 January 1899 in Booth B360, p141.

Arsenal Football Club, Griffen Manor Way, Woolwich from Walk with Police Constable Clyne, District 48 [Woolwich], 28 May [1900] in Booth B371, p237. Transcription: The Arsenal Football Ground with a grandstand and surrounded by a wooden paling. Crowded in winter. "Sometimes 25,000 onlookers of a Saturday" said Clyne [policemen]. Boys pay 3d and men 6d and 1/- different gates for each price.

Women drinking in Putney from Walk with Police Constable Mullett, District 39 [Wandsworth and Putney], November 1899 in Booth B370, p159. Transcription: "In speaking of drink [Police Constable] Mullett said that he was convinced that the lower class of poor such as are found in most of the blue steets of Putney drink as much as they did 20 years ago and the women a great deal more. On Saturday nights he says you will always meet two drunken women for one drunken men in the poor quarters off [Putney] High Street"